Originally posted by: Special K
Originally posted by: rgwalt
I like my freedom, I like my free time. I like being able to do what I want, when I want without having to answer to anyone. I like not having to make excuses for not getting out of bed before noon on a Sunday, or spending $2500 on a new TV. I get a lot of gratification out of my freedom. However, I go to bed alone, and I realize there is a trade-off.
Perhaps the married AT'ers could comment on this, but as a single guy I would suspect that going from married to married + kids places much larger restrictions on your time and money than going from single to married does. If you're married without kids, you are likely both working and have 2 incomes to spend as you please. Obviously there is the whole issue of financial responsibility and living within your means, but beyond that it seems that married couples who each have their own separate careers still have a good deal of the financial freedom they had as singles. As far as time goes, are the committments on time to a married couple without children really that much more difficult than a single person?
I can see why going from married to married + children would have a huge impact on time and money, however. If one parent quits working to take care of the children, the family's income could take a significant hit. Combine this with the fact that children are expensive, and it's easy to see how they can severly restrict a family financially. Children also require a great deal of time to raise.
My main point is that while the author seems to associate married life and children with a huge restriction of free time and money, it seems to me that going from single to married has much less of an impact on free time and money than going from married to married + kids does.
Any married AT'ers care to comment?
I went from single in 2007 to married with child and another one coming today. I can say that the joy of watching your child take his first steps and the joy of your child running to you to hug you are priceless. I would trade all the treasure in the world for that.
And speaking of treasure, I would say I am even or saving money since being single. However, I was spending $1000-1500 on bars/restaurants a month back in my heyday. Plus my income is up 50% since then and my wife makes good money too...I guess I'm a bad example for that. It all depends on your lifestyle before and after. But kids do not have to cost that much money if you are frugal.