As a college student, I am trained to extensively think about my future. All I've been taught is to learn enough to be able to support myself, and one day a family.
Considering that I'm in a pretty good relationship, and that I'm two weeks from graduation I've really been dwelling on what it would mean to have a family...mainly supporting a kid.
There's a lot of us out there who've grown up knowing someone close that have had a child without preparation, many times before hitting their 20s. I'm 23 years old, and though I want to start my own family one day, I thank GOD that I've gone through life thus far without getting some one pregnant.
So I did a little research and found out what it would cost to bring up a baby:
>$3,000-$12,000 to have a baby (hospital care)
>$200-400 for housing (per child/a month)
>$70-$260 for food (per child/per month)
>$200 a month for transportation ($30K over 17 years)
>$30-$100 (a month/$17,000 over 17 years)
>$15,000 for health care (over 17 year period)
Wow...after seeing this, I wanna cut off my...well on second thought, that's a bit extreme, but it does make me think. As much as I want a child, I'm nowhere near ready for the financial obligation that comes with one. To find out what it's like making babies click here.
I feel you. I want a family, but I feel it selfish to start when I am not ready. I want to be done with school and already have a successful career before children and a 'pretty good relationship' come along. I want my husband and I to be able to attend our children's football games, dance recitals, rap performances, etc without interference from work.
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