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That explains why parents don’t have tons of children anymore (well, also dual-income houses are a thing, and it’s just not feasible to manage the lives of more

That explains why parents don’t have tons of children anymore (well, also dual-income houses are a thing, and it’s just not feasible to manage the lives of more than 2-3 children to middle class standards with both parents working). But it doesn’t explain why people have to delay children so long, which likely does reduce overall fertility rates. I think it’s good that children are not viewed as an investment (note this is still the case in many cultures where communal living/financially supporting your parents is expected). But if it means fertility rates falling to drastically low SK/Japan levels we have to explore policy solutions.

rainsford 4y ago
> But it doesn’t explain why people have to delay children so long, which likely does reduce overall fertility rates. I think it's much the same reason. When children are viewed as a giant economic and lifestyle cost, a lot of people will delay until they feel more ready. As things like good family housing become proportionally more expensive, it makes sense that people will want to wait until they feel more financially established in their careers and lives that they're comfortable taking on that kind of debt. And on the lifestyle front, there's more than ever that DINKs (dual-income no-kids) folks can spend their ample money and free time on, making having kids an even larger perceived opportunity cost. Why have kids in your 20s when you can't afford a house and can spend your time as a couple traveling or whatever when you can have kids in your 30s instead when you feel like you can better afford it and are maybe ready to settle down, or so the thinking goes for a lot of folks.
tcmart14 4y ago
I had kids young. First one at 21 and my 2nd at 23. Now I am done having kids. Talking to friends, a lot of it is, it is a major financial burden. Now in their mid to late 20s, they are waiting because they hope in the future to be more financially stable. Now my person opinion. Unless your a millionaire, your never financially "stable" enough to have kids. It is going to kick you in the "balls" one way or another. Rather it is affording diapers (not so steep) or child care (almost take a whole pay check for many people) or medical. With that said, there is a degree where if I had to do it over, I may have waited.
- dalyons 4y ago
  Presumably your kids are 10 or more years old now? If so (as I’m sure you know) childcare and medical has gotten much more expensive in that timeframe
  - tcmart14 4y ago
    Under 10. I am not quiet yet 30, so my oldest is 7. But yea, medical is no joke. Not even just the actual medical bills. At my current job, I pay about $1k a month just for them to have insurance. The company covers my premiums, but barely anything if I have dependents.
insane_dreamer 4y ago
> it doesn’t explain why people have to delay children so long it does; people want to wait until they're more financially secure/stable before having kids given the costs of raising children, and they are less likely to reach that stability until well into their 30s

rainsford 4y ago

> But it doesn’t explain why people have to delay children so long, which likely does reduce overall fertility rates. I think it's much the same reason. When children are viewed as a giant economic and lifestyle cost, a lot of people will delay until they feel more ready. As things like good family housing become proportionally more expensive, it makes sense that people will want to wait until they feel more financially established in their careers and lives that they're comfortable taking on that kind of debt. And on the lifestyle front, there's more than ever that DINKs (dual-income no-kids) folks can spend their ample money and free time on, making having kids an even larger perceived opportunity cost. Why have kids in your 20s when you can't afford a house and can spend your time as a couple traveling or whatever when you can have kids in your 30s instead when you feel like you can better afford it and are maybe ready to settle down, or so the thinking goes for a lot of folks.

tcmart14 4y ago

I had kids young. First one at 21 and my 2nd at 23. Now I am done having kids. Talking to friends, a lot of it is, it is a major financial burden. Now in their mid to late 20s, they are waiting because they hope in the future to be more financially stable. Now my person opinion. Unless your a millionaire, your never financially "stable" enough to have kids. It is going to kick you in the "balls" one way or another. Rather it is affording diapers (not so steep) or child care (almost take a whole pay check for many people) or medical. With that said, there is a degree where if I had to do it over, I may have waited.

dalyons 4y ago
Presumably your kids are 10 or more years old now? If so (as I’m sure you know) childcare and medical has gotten much more expensive in that timeframe
- tcmart14 4y ago
  Under 10. I am not quiet yet 30, so my oldest is 7. But yea, medical is no joke. Not even just the actual medical bills. At my current job, I pay about $1k a month just for them to have insurance. The company covers my premiums, but barely anything if I have dependents.

insane_dreamer 4y ago

> it doesn’t explain why people have to delay children so long it does; people want to wait until they're more financially secure/stable before having kids given the costs of raising children, and they are less likely to reach that stability until well into their 30s