Hey OP, I understand your dilemma. The good news is you don't have to give up on your dreams completely, but the rate at which you work to achieve them will hav

Hey OP, I understand your dilemma. The good news is you don't have to give up on your dreams completely, but the rate at which you work to achieve them will have to slow down a lot. You're thinking of starting a family. Unless you are financially well off already, it's best to get a job with a steady paycheck. You have to start saving for the baby, the health insurance for your family, the children's college fund, and many other random and spontaneous expenses that come with raising children. You might need to move to a larger house, or to a better neighborhood to get into a better school for your kids. Don't forget that insurance might not even cover your medical expenses from having a baby because of how hospitals does billing (ie, if you need a doctor right now, in-network vs out-of-network reasoning goes out the window, among other billing issues). Having a steady and beefy paycheck will help you tone down stresses by a lot. Plus, if your company offers long paternity leave (and you can scope this out during interviews), you can take that time off to support your baby and also work on your personal project. Don't give up on your dreams, but we are also the working class, and have to be realistic about finances down the road. There's always opportunity to work on your projects on the side, it just occurs less frequently than you'll be used to initially. But you won't regret it, having a supportive family and having kids is the best thing in the world.