How can I Tell if I'm Ready Financially for a Child?
You may have heard that raising children is expensive. In certain instances, crushingly so. A research that went viral a few years ago predicted that raising a child in America will cost an average of $233,610 (!). The report featured terrifying images of toddlers brandishing spatulas. According to a more recent survey, the average American family spends over $22,000 on nursery, nappies, and other supplies for their infant during the first year of life. Also, it was discovered that parents, on average, underestimated the costs associated with having a baby in the first year. It makes sense that an increasing proportion of adults opt not to have children, with 36% citing "can't afford to raise a child" as a primary motivator. Despite the frightening statistics, it is impossible to accurately value children. However, making plans for one doesn't have to be a mysterious mystery either. If your amorphous financial worry prevents you from considering motherhood, it'...