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Elizabeth Warren's book The Two-Income Trap argued that dual income couples priced out single income families from the best locations. It makes sense that DINK

Elizabeth Warren's book The Two-Income Trap argued that dual income couples priced out single income families from the best locations. It makes sense that DINKs and childless single people are simply reacting to the same economic incentives and now pricing out dual income families. I think high-rents is a major driver of this decision. The USDA puts the cost of your first kid at $14.4k annually edited. That is primarily due to housing.

rychco 4y ago
In what universe is a child only 14.4K? Is this the price of a diapers alone? Preschool? Food? This number seems laughably low.
- meowfly 4y ago
  Annually, sorry if that was confusing. $250k over their lifetime.
  - rychco 4y ago
    Thanks for clarifying. Even that number seems a bit low but makes much more sense.
drc37 4y ago
I’ll give you a hint, the best locations are not in the city. Check out small towns. The people are down to earth. The cost of living is much less and the people are generally awesome to be around. I love in a small farming town and your neighbors would give the shirt off their back to come help you. One of our daughters has to go to the hospital for about a week and we came home to a clean house and meals for a week. Those who think the city is good place to be, explore a little outside your urban bubble. In addition to this, we have lots of kids and there are plenty of ways to have kids affordably. You don’t have to send your kids Ivy League schools and if they do, they can get their student loans to pay for it. Lastly, yes, kids can a source of frustration and pain but they are by the one of the largest sources of joy, pride and happiness in our life. Watching them grow and develop is amazing.
- the_only_law 4y ago
  > Those who think the city is good place to be, explore a little outside your urban bubble. And for those that thing “small towns” are some homogenous idyllic 50s family fantasy, be careful. Last one I lived in was a pit of unemployment, methamphetamine and heroin.
- Kye 4y ago
  I've done both. I liked being able to walk around an empty little three-street downtown taking pictures of buildings in various states of decay and renewal without anyone bothering me, but it's no way to live. The people you meet are nice until they aren't, and then they can be dangerous. Younger people there are usually better, but they're all trying to get out.

rychco 4y ago

In what universe is a child only 14.4K? Is this the price of a diapers alone? Preschool? Food? This number seems laughably low.

meowfly 4y ago
Annually, sorry if that was confusing. $250k over their lifetime.
- rychco 4y ago
  Thanks for clarifying. Even that number seems a bit low but makes much more sense.

drc37 4y ago

I’ll give you a hint, the best locations are not in the city. Check out small towns. The people are down to earth. The cost of living is much less and the people are generally awesome to be around. I love in a small farming town and your neighbors would give the shirt off their back to come help you. One of our daughters has to go to the hospital for about a week and we came home to a clean house and meals for a week. Those who think the city is good place to be, explore a little outside your urban bubble. In addition to this, we have lots of kids and there are plenty of ways to have kids affordably. You don’t have to send your kids Ivy League schools and if they do, they can get their student loans to pay for it. Lastly, yes, kids can a source of frustration and pain but they are by the one of the largest sources of joy, pride and happiness in our life. Watching them grow and develop is amazing.

the_only_law 4y ago
> Those who think the city is good place to be, explore a little outside your urban bubble. And for those that thing “small towns” are some homogenous idyllic 50s family fantasy, be careful. Last one I lived in was a pit of unemployment, methamphetamine and heroin.
Kye 4y ago
I've done both. I liked being able to walk around an empty little three-street downtown taking pictures of buildings in various states of decay and renewal without anyone bothering me, but it's no way to live. The people you meet are nice until they aren't, and then they can be dangerous. Younger people there are usually better, but they're all trying to get out.