Should You Have Kids If You’re Financially Unstable?

Adrienne Houghton, Jeannie Mai, Loni Love, and Tamera Mowry-Housley weigh in on whether it’s necessary to be “financially stable” before starting a family. What do you think?

[craymay]

Not being able to provide for your child is horrifying. No thanks.

[DSLightning]

"If you can't feed your baby, then don't have a baby." - Michael Jackson

[Kim]

Everything should be stable. Even your mental health. Not all people gets that tho.

[jennyoyster]

If you’re intentionally trying to have kids and know you’re broke, I say no. But if it’s happens, do the best you can!

[xDHalcyonn]

Bottom line is you should have at least some sort of financial stability for a child. It makes sense sociologically and logically.

[ChrisDMReloaded]

having kids while being poor is one of the cruellest things ever.

[ascendantrocket]

As a child who eventually entered the foster care system because his parents were not fit on every level, especially financially, to raise him properly, the answer is absolutely NO. Don’t bring a child into this world unless you are willing and ready to provide for them on all levels: emotionally, financially, and spiritually. No child should have to worry about if they can eat or be provided with the necessities to live, be productive, and happy. No child should face abandonment because their parents are incompetent and irresponsible. Every child deserves to be raised in a happy, safe, supportive, and loving home. Your child will end up psychologically impaired for life if you don’t do your job right as a parent. I definitely am. It is your duty to do right by those who you selfishly choose to bring into this world.

[LiBbYeLiSe]

If you're living pay-check to pay-check, and only really have money for rent, bills and food with nothing left over you should really consider not having a child right then. Because babies are expensive and you're only going to struggle more with another mouth to feed and less time to work because of the child. You don't need to be rich to have a child but you should also consider what life you can provide right now in your situation.

[pinguinitacori]

You should be financially stable. It's selfish to start having kids without thinking about the kid's future.

[lauryrodriguez]

That’s so selfish “shouldn’t deter my dream of having children.” Think before you have kids.

[realeluebo]

I CAN NOT HAVE KIDS THAT I CAN NOT TAKE CARE OF BECAUSE CHILDREN DESERVES THE BEST AND NOT THE WORST.

[lekhayes]

Lets go through this real quick:
1. It cost money just to have the baby. Thousands of dollars incurred due to care during the pregnancy and the day of labor.
2. You better hope you don't leave the hospital with post-pregnancy problems. Thats another doctors bill.
3. There are medical requirements for the baby over the course of its first 5 years.
4. Babies often have spontaneous ailments (colds, flu, ear infection, etc.)
This is just the medical side of it.

[Cande]

love won't feed your kids just saying

[dmason]

LIES!!! your financial situation should be stable before deciding to have children!! 🙄

[steviebana]

I'm going to speak from personal experience so don't @ me. I live in the Bronx I grew up struggling because only my father has a job and my parents had me young. My mom barely even had an education. I feel like if my parents were financially stable that they should of had kids. I know it's not their fault but I wish that they would have planned and waited. My mother is always complaining to me how she is struggling with me and my autistic siblings, and I just think to myself she should of never had us. For me personally I want to have a secure job before I start thinking of a family because that's not fair to the child.

[Maggie]

My opinion : no money = no kids. Broke people and cheap people should not have kids. A friend of mine has a kid just because she wanted a kid. But because she is cheap she literally bugged everybody that she knew to buy her baby stuff. First year she did not spend a single dollar for her son. And well she lost a lot of friend just because of that. If you can`t buy your kid everything that he/she needs just don`t have kids. Why would anybody pay for just some kid that it`s not theirs????

[sumdayzzz]

As someone who grew up in and is STILL in a financially unstable household (I’m 18) all I have to say is DONT DO IT! Please don’t bring kids into a situation that is already difficult and have them experience an unhealthy childhood

[TheSweetForever]

A child is another bill. So why open up another bill, if you can’t pay for the ones you have now 😒.

[Myaccount]

Loni just wants to know WHO gon take care of these gyatdamn kids 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾😂😂😂

[latina]

The fact that this is up for discussion makes me scared for society. I was in no way raised with a silver spoon in my mouth but if you can help it, plan for a child. Children are not just for your pleasure.