Choosing not to have kids in order to pursue FIRE?

[Cassie]

I think that everyone should follow their heart in regard to having kids.  Don’t have them for anyone but yourself.

[Korrywow]

Hello everyone, this is my first post WOW. What a serious topic! Or is it really...
Most people love children, as l do, especially those cute asian and latin ones; but more importantly, we are genetically programmed to reproduce and it can be argued, successfully, that without reproduction our lives have been wasted...but only in a narrow genetic or evolutionary sense.

The sad, objective reality is that the world is overpopulated and our species have negatively impacted every ecosystem on the planet. Besides restricting the use of fossil fuels and placing a moratorium on most plastic and pesticide, etc. use, what we desperately need is negative population growth.

So, if you truly care about the future of the planet and the human race, the most ethical choice you can make is to be " child free". The financial and lifestyle benefits are almost secondary.

But ultimately, it is a personal choice. I chose freedom and have never doubted or resented that choice...because, if you travel outside of N. Am., there are people and kids everywhere, so they may be underestimating the global population. For example, I just got back from the Philippines and l'm absolutely certain there are over 7 billion people in Manilla!! (retired at 50, now l'm an unemployed comedian).

[Linea_Norway]

Hello everyone, this is my first post WOW. What a serious topic! Or is it really...
Most people love children, as l do, especially those cute asian and latin ones; but more importantly, we are genetically programmed to reproduce and it can be argued, successfully, that without reproduction our lives have been wasted...but only in a narrow genetic or evolutionary sense.

The sad, objective reality is that the world is overpopulated and our species have negatively impacted every ecosystem on the planet. Besides restricting the use of fossil fuels and placing a moratorium on most plastic and pesticide, etc. use, what we desperately need is negative population growth.

So, if you truly care about the future of the planet and the human race, the most ethical choice you can make is to be " child free". The financial and lifestyle benefits are almost secondary.

But ultimately, it is a personal choice. I chose freedom and have never doubted or resented that choice...because, if you travel outside of N. Am., there are people and kids everywhere, so they may be underestimating the global population. For example, I just got back from the Philippines and l'm absolutely certain there are over 7 billion people in Manilla!! (retired at 50, now l'm an unemployed comedian).

You are right, the world is overpopulated. Therefore it is good that some people choose not to have children. But a world without children is not a good idea either, so it is equally good that some other people choose to have children. Both choices are good.

[Korrywow]

Thanks for the reply. After retiring, l wanted to adopt a couple of Cambodian or Laos girls but my partner refused. She's a smart gal and knew that she would be doing 100% of the work while l showed them off at the local playground and Trader Joes (JOKE!!!).

Getting back to the main thread, l specifically chose to be child free (vasectomy) in my early 20's for both the physical freedom and to avoid the financial responsibility of being a parent.

Selfish guy, but l've had a fascinating life. For now, l donate to charities supporting childrens education in the third world. Check out lotuseducationalfund which supports Laos girls from poor families.

[Hula Hoop]

Thanks for the reply. After retiring, l wanted to adopt a couple of Cambodian or Laos girls but my partner refused. She's a smart gal and knew that she would be doing 100% of the work while l showed them off at the local playground and Trader Joes.

Yikes.  It doesn't sound like you're at all ready to be a parent so good call on not going through with the adoption.

[Korrywow]

It was a JOKE...but thanks for the criticism

[partgypsy]

well I wouldn't trade not having kids for like a million dollars. Not like it's all fun and games but it brings meaning and also "family" to my life. Hard to explain.
So yeah, they are separate questions. You can do kids cheap or expensively. I know someone with 5 kids and he and his wife kid a kick ass job, and while raising the kids frugally (he is a generation above me) retired on time and does a lot of traveling. I'm sure he has no regrets. And yes I also know couples who have huge houses, have their one child go to private school, also members of expensive club, for the "child". I know they love their kid to bits but there's some rationalization of their lifestyle on their part.
And I also know dinks who do lots of vacations, have an inflated lifestyle, and spend about what a working class person would spend on their kid on their pet.


I guess the only time I had a twinge, was visiting a mutual friend. He rents, lives a minimal lifestyle, and quit his regular job about 6 months ago yet can get by on occasional gigs (sound engineer). He does these game nights, takes in yoga and other classes, and is going for a week to volunteer at Sundance and take in the films. So yeah a bit of twinge at the FREEDOM he has, in particular not having to show up for a regular job monday through Friday. the feeling will pass : \

[wbarnett]

Interesting idea. Kids can be expensive, as many people have mentioned (I have 3). There are definitely non-financial perks, though -- so the decision largely depends on how you value those. I love being a dad, even if it's not financially optimal. Others might not like being a parent, and that's ok too.

Something neat I figured out recently:
The recent change to the Child Tax Credit makes it less of a financial burden. It's possible to make $100k and pay no taxes with three kids: $100k - ($24k standard deduction + $18.5k 401k contribution + $6.9k HSA contribution) gives a $5,700 tax bill, which you get back in the form of the Child Tax Credit ($2k per child). I have no idea if that 'pays' for the kids' expenses throughout the year, but it helps.