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> Basically it comes down to choosing between buying a house and having a kid. If you already had a kid but everything else in your life was the same, what wou

> Basically it comes down to choosing between buying a house and having a kid. If you already had a kid but everything else in your life was the same, what would you do?

cameronh90 5y ago
I don't know. It's not something I've ever given too much thought to because it's too expensive to realistically consider.
- nyokodo 5y ago
  > it's too expensive to realistically consider Too expensive under what constraints and how impossible is violating those constraints? For instance, does the UK have cheaper areas to live with childcare costs in-line with incomes? Can you or the other parent take a career holiday to look after the children? Your lifestyle expenses are so reduced you have no room to make savings and apply it to your child?
  - cameronh90 5y ago
    Too expensive compared to what I am willing to spend, so it doesn't warrant any further consideration. There's simply no situation where the opportunity cost and actual costs of a child through ages 0 to 18 are anywhere near what I am willing to spend, no matter where I live in the UK. I don't want to move or impact my (or my partner's) career to that extent. Thinking any more about it would be like me trying to decide which Tesla I would want when I wouldn't even be willing to spend the money for a Toyota Yaris.
    - nyokodo 5y ago
      > There's simply no situation where the opportunity cost and actual costs of a child through ages 0 to 18 are anywhere near what I am willing to spend You’ve moved from language implying insurmountable expense to admitting that you’re unwilling to tolerate that expense. The vast majority of the use of money to justify no children when you scratch the surface are really hiding the preference for status and lifestyle, at least on this site. I’m quite passionate about eliminating the real hardships that do put economic barriers in the way of children because it has become a major global problem.
      - cameronh90 5y ago
        I didn't ever say it was insurmountable, I said it was too expensive. Obviously poor unemployed people manage to have kids so it's possible, but the costs are too high for me. I don't consider it a realistic prospect to find a new job in another part of the country and have my partner leave her career just to have a kid. If that's the choice, we're not having kids - they're not worth it.

> Basically it comes down to choosing between buying a house and having a kid. If you already had a kid but everything else in your life was the same, what would you do?

cameronh90 5y ago

I don't know. It's not something I've ever given too much thought to because it's too expensive to realistically consider.

nyokodo 5y ago
> it's too expensive to realistically consider Too expensive under what constraints and how impossible is violating those constraints? For instance, does the UK have cheaper areas to live with childcare costs in-line with incomes? Can you or the other parent take a career holiday to look after the children? Your lifestyle expenses are so reduced you have no room to make savings and apply it to your child?
- cameronh90 5y ago
  Too expensive compared to what I am willing to spend, so it doesn't warrant any further consideration. There's simply no situation where the opportunity cost and actual costs of a child through ages 0 to 18 are anywhere near what I am willing to spend, no matter where I live in the UK. I don't want to move or impact my (or my partner's) career to that extent. Thinking any more about it would be like me trying to decide which Tesla I would want when I wouldn't even be willing to spend the money for a Toyota Yaris.
  - nyokodo 5y ago
    > There's simply no situation where the opportunity cost and actual costs of a child through ages 0 to 18 are anywhere near what I am willing to spend You’ve moved from language implying insurmountable expense to admitting that you’re unwilling to tolerate that expense. The vast majority of the use of money to justify no children when you scratch the surface are really hiding the preference for status and lifestyle, at least on this site. I’m quite passionate about eliminating the real hardships that do put economic barriers in the way of children because it has become a major global problem.
    - cameronh90 5y ago
      I didn't ever say it was insurmountable, I said it was too expensive. Obviously poor unemployed people manage to have kids so it's possible, but the costs are too high for me. I don't consider it a realistic prospect to find a new job in another part of the country and have my partner leave her career just to have a kid. If that's the choice, we're not having kids - they're not worth it.