Can You Afford Kids? (And How to Start Planning Before You Have Them)

Well, Maddie, I mean, the talk of, you know, some adult beverages is like we're going to have to make a hard switch to this topic.

I know.

Because we are talking all about kids today, kids and money, about whether you can afford kids.

So I wanted to kind of quiz you, Maddie.

Do you know or could you estimate how much it costs to raise a child in the United States on average, you know, and from... beginning of life when they're born through 18, not including any college spend.

What would be your guess? So is this just like food? It's everything it costs to raise a child, all of that except for college.

So anything you'd be paying out of your pocket for your child.

I'm going to say about $200,000.

You're a little light, Maddie.

Really? Yeah.

So according to a 2026 lending tree survey, just over $300,000.

Wow.

Now, I will say that obviously state by state, it's going to vary.

I think one of them that was referenced was like Hawaii was over $400,000.

So that's bringing up the average.

And then if you live in a lower cost state, maybe it's $200,000.

But it is pricey.

Yeah.

And there's obviously a lot of decisions that can go into that, whether that makes it higher or lower.

And we're going to get into all that today just to kind of see all of that.

And Maddie, I am super excited to chat about this one because I'll be honest, I'm I kind of had an idea of how much kids cost, but I never Googled it before having my daughter.

So I'm excited to kind of go through this.

Yes, I know the shocked face of your look right now.

I never looked it up.

I