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Don't have kids you can't afford!

895 replies

user793847984375948 · 25/10/2025 10:57

Hi all, this is meant to be an interesting discussion.

I keep seeing people say, “Don’t have kids if you can’t afford them.”

But in the UK, if someone works full-time on minimum wage, the state ends up paying thousands for childcare so that parent can work.
If that same parent stayed home, they would receive less support overall, yet they would be raising their own child hands-on. A single mum can work part-time and get rent and living costs for kids, around 500 a month in support if she works.

Nursery is about 1K a month usually. Then there's the wraparound care before and after school that could also be funded by UC.

So why is one scenario seen as responsible and the other as “sponging”?

Further, do people who say “don’t have kids you can’t afford” actually think only those earning £60k or more should have children, since that is roughly what it takes to cover childcare or a single income? That eradicates the above two scenarios and it's just those with independent wealth

If so, what would that mean for society long-term, both economically and socially? There would be fewer poor people over all and I think this would have an impact on our monetary system and menial jobs getting done.

And if you believe that only the wealthy should reproduce, you are effectively asking rich, white, powerful men to police women’s reproduction.
That is exactly what is happening in parts of America right now.

Genuinely curious how people justify this way of thinking.

OP posts:
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5
Ubertomusic · 25/10/2025 15:02

Peonies12 · 25/10/2025 14:21

But I pay tax on my income, before receiving it and paying for childcare. Those receiving benefits dont. Not saying there’s anything wrong with that; it’s a fact

You're wrong, the working poor do pay tax on their income above personal allowance.

twistyizzy · 25/10/2025 15:01

Unrulyscrumptious · 25/10/2025 14:56

Yet you have ignored every example on this thread of unplanned pregnancies and how they can come about even through unconsensual means, to hide behind the vague phrase of personal responsibility without wanting to say they you either think poor people have a personal responsibility to have an abortion they want not want it feels able to go through or to be on some kind of long lasting contraception which again they any not want for many many reasons. For someone who can't consider anything outside of her own personal experience you've got cheek a causing me of internal bias and prejudice for asking you to consider anything outside of your bubble.

I have most certainly not ignored anything. I've answered but you choose not to accept my explanation, again that's on you not me.

I've worked in education for over 20 years Inc as a teacher and vocational tutor working with 16 Yr olds in deprived areas.
I have experience so again it's your bias applying the label of not being able to "consider anything outside of your bubble".

Unrulyscrumptious · 25/10/2025 15:01

twistyizzy · 25/10/2025 14:48

I have no idea, what does research tell you? I know nothing about Hungary so I'm not the one to ask but maybe they don't continually spaff taxpayer money on vanity projects eg HS2/Digital ID etc?
Maybe they don't have as much debt to service or as big a benefits bill?

Look it up as I have no clue

So you agree now we could afford it but we choose to spend our money elsewhere 😂

vivainsomnia · 25/10/2025 15:00

Because the only way to enforce your 1-2 child limit in any real world sense in pretty fucking grim which is why no one wants to expand on how they think this should be done
You shouldn't have to enforce it. We need to raise our kids to learn to make right decisions rather than self-centred decisions that are wrong.For that, we need parents who themselves adhere to the concept of self-responsibility. Sadly, that notion is dying a quick death. That thread is a perfect example of that!.

Unrulyscrumptious · 25/10/2025 15:00

No5ChalksRoad · 25/10/2025 14:53

No, the batshittery is excusing and indulging teen pregnancy with maudlin claptrap.

Decent parenting is a major preventative. No one in my school 45 years ago gave birth in her teens. It wasn’t culturally acceptable, and those of us who were sexually active were laser-focused on preventing it.

Well the UK had the second highest rate of teen pregnancy back then so once again didn't happen in your school or tiny bubble so it never happened ever.

DarkForces · 25/10/2025 14:57

No5ChalksRoad · 25/10/2025 14:53

No, the batshittery is excusing and indulging teen pregnancy with maudlin claptrap.

Decent parenting is a major preventative. No one in my school 45 years ago gave birth in her teens. It wasn’t culturally acceptable, and those of us who were sexually active were laser-focused on preventing it.

No one? There was definitely a teen mum or 2 in high school days that finished in the late 90s.

vivainsomnia · 25/10/2025 14:57

My friend got pregnant with condoms so went on the pill pregnant again so had a coil got pregnant again used a different coil began having major medical episodes they believed were connected to the coil so they eventually removed it and were going to put another different coil in or implant put her on a different "better" pill in the meantime and she got pregnant again
Either your friend is lying to you (very easy to pretend you are using safe methods when you're not to justify your choice to continue to have children) or if she isn't, she is an exceptional case and therefore it's pointless to use her example as representing the average.

Ubertomusic · 25/10/2025 14:57

SlobbinBlob · 25/10/2025 14:12

But 30 hours is for anyone earning under £100k, I’m pretty sure everyone uses it?

It just sounds like self-flagellation to me, to choose to pay £1k more a month rather than take a benefit designed for working parents?

Your friends’ choice though at the end of the day.

I've never used it (income well below 100k) though not as a self-flagellation exercise 😂 I don't think it's a drain on the system either, it's actually a drop in the ocean of horrendous budget mis-management and wrong spending priorities over decades.

Unrulyscrumptious · 25/10/2025 14:56

twistyizzy · 25/10/2025 14:52

I'm not bitter, that's a quality you've applied to me because of your personal prejuduce and internal bias. I just believe in personal responsibility and that the taxpayer shouldn't foot the bill especially at a time when we can't afford it.

People who can't afford to feed and look after the DC they already have, shouldn't have more DC and expect the taxpayer to foot the bill.

Let's see how you twist that.......

Yet you have ignored every example on this thread of unplanned pregnancies and how they can come about even through unconsensual means, to hide behind the vague phrase of personal responsibility without wanting to say they you either think poor people have a personal responsibility to have an abortion they want not want it feels able to go through or to be on some kind of long lasting contraception which again they any not want for many many reasons. For someone who can't consider anything outside of her own personal experience you've got cheek a causing me of internal bias and prejudice for asking you to consider anything outside of your bubble.

Whyjustwhy83 · 25/10/2025 14:55

I think being able to raise small children to school age shouldn't be seen as a luxury or something to be put down upon if it can't fully be funded by parents.
The whole what about the effect on a women's career is a mute point if you're minimum wage worker, yes it will effect pension contributions, you still get some if claiming CB. Also any post about benefits, I see so many people begrudging any kind of support for low paid parents as well as none working ones.
Time and again you also see get a better job in posts about UC top ups or needing childcare help.Thats just not possible for a lot of minimum wages workers, not everyone has the brains for more skilled work. We as a society need manual labour workers and if they're not paid a fair wage and the government don't force companies to pay fairly then top-ups are very much needed We would be fucked if people who couldn't fully support a family before having one stopped reproducing.
I think if a woman chooses to she should be able to raise a child to school age with support from the government. Not everyone wants to pop out a child and be back working within months, granted some don't have that luxury and it's sad. Those in higher paid jobs don't seem to have as many opportunities to take time off which is sad. Maybe if the government made maternity leave fairer and stopped women's careers taking hits for having time off to raise children, it might mean those that choose to could take the time. Also paying them a decent SMP as in full wage for at least 18 m and after government top ups
Should have wrote this in bullet points as a it's a little disjointed , sorry hope it makes sense

No5ChalksRoad · 25/10/2025 14:53

Zavettimexico · 25/10/2025 14:42

I still don’t see the issue? 15 year olds think they’ve fallen in love and have a baby together tale as old as time. The only reason to be mad about it is the tax payers money argument but what 15 year old knows all about taxes?
@No5ChalksRoad holding it against someone that they were once young dumb and in love is batshittery

No, the batshittery is excusing and indulging teen pregnancy with maudlin claptrap.

Decent parenting is a major preventative. No one in my school 45 years ago gave birth in her teens. It wasn’t culturally acceptable, and those of us who were sexually active were laser-focused on preventing it.

twistyizzy · 25/10/2025 14:52

Unrulyscrumptious · 25/10/2025 14:46

So why even mention that you stopped at one for affordability and other should too? If you're so happy one and done you wouldn't be bitter about a woman who wants 3 children, or has one and wants another then continues with an unplanned twin pregnancy who needs help from the state.

I'm not bitter, that's a quality you've applied to me because of your personal prejuduce and internal bias. I just believe in personal responsibility and that the taxpayer shouldn't foot the bill especially at a time when we can't afford it.

People who can't afford to feed and look after the DC they already have, shouldn't have more DC and expect the taxpayer to foot the bill.

Let's see how you twist that.......

FellowSuffereroftheAbsurd · 25/10/2025 14:50

As a PP said "The message has been heard and received. Don't sweat about a few outliers. Sweat about the abolition of the state pension and social security system as we know it in the near future."

Society isn't coping because successive governments have successfully divided us enough that we dehumanise each other, see the worst in each other, while government leaders actively works to benefit themselves and line their own pockets and those of their wealthy sponsors. It isn't struggling because a shrinking number are having kids, and some of them have those kids while on Universal Credit.

As shown, different people mean different things when they say "don't have kids you can't afford". The kindest is that it's a harsh platitude towards those already in very difficult situations shouldn't make it worse; however, for some it's anyone who doesn't fit their idea of comfortable are selfish to reproduce.

Despite UK teenage pregnancy rates have dropped significantly to less than half what they were just over a decade ago and the latest ONS data I can find showing little difference in number of children by household income (cause really, when people say 'uneducated and undereducated' they mean poor), people will shout from the rooftops confidently that those at the bottom are to horrible animals to blame for everything from the country going bankrupt to climate change. That we have billions unaccounted for and its well documented that the vast majority of climate change causes come from corporations and governments that act like corporations. The institutions are at least succeeding in keeping the ire so many clearly have off of them.

Unrulyscrumptious · 25/10/2025 14:49

No5ChalksRoad · 25/10/2025 14:47

It’s too bad that we can’t rely upon selfish, careless people to “enforce” the limits on themselves, isn’t it? Out of rock-bottom consideration for the taxpayers who are supporting their lifestyle choices.

And now we're back to you assuming any pregnancy a woman experiences is totally selfish. You can't actually tell the difference between the woman who claims benefits for a kid she wanted or the kid she got through rape, you'll dehumanise her regardless. Did you answer if you have kids yet? I must have missed it.

twistyizzy · 25/10/2025 14:48

Ubertomusic · 25/10/2025 14:46

Exactly, so my question still stands: how is that Hungary that is not wealthy CAN afford paying THAT much money to people who are willing to have children - and the more the better, ideally three! - yet we the UK, the sixths world economy, cannot do less than that? How come???

I have no idea, what does research tell you? I know nothing about Hungary so I'm not the one to ask but maybe they don't continually spaff taxpayer money on vanity projects eg HS2/Digital ID etc?
Maybe they don't have as much debt to service or as big a benefits bill?

Look it up as I have no clue

No5ChalksRoad · 25/10/2025 14:47

Unrulyscrumptious · 25/10/2025 14:45

Because the only way to enforce your 1-2 child limit in any real world sense in pretty fucking grim which is why no one wants to expand on how they think this should be done

It’s too bad that we can’t rely upon selfish, careless people to “enforce” the limits on themselves, isn’t it? Out of rock-bottom consideration for the taxpayers who are supporting their lifestyle choices.

Unrulyscrumptious · 25/10/2025 14:46

twistyizzy · 25/10/2025 14:41

I never said I wasn't happy. I'm very happy with 1 in fact I said so 🙄 No anger from me. You have projected yours on to me.

You have shocking comprehension skills and an obvious agenda.

So why even mention that you stopped at one for affordability and other should too? If you're so happy one and done you wouldn't be bitter about a woman who wants 3 children, or has one and wants another then continues with an unplanned twin pregnancy who needs help from the state.

Ubertomusic · 25/10/2025 14:46

twistyizzy · 25/10/2025 13:58

"European powerhouses" er we aren't in the EU! Europe is barely a powerhouse seeing as the dynamics have shifted east to China/US/India.

Exactly, so my question still stands: how is that Hungary that is not wealthy CAN afford paying THAT much money to people who are willing to have children - and the more the better, ideally three! - yet we the UK, the sixths world economy, cannot do less than that? How come???

No5ChalksRoad · 25/10/2025 14:45

vivainsomnia · 25/10/2025 14:32

A well functioning society is one that support young adults being the best parents they can be. That is likely to include financial support from those further established in life.

However, for society to continue to offer support, it needs those previous young adults to themselves become well established and self-sufficient.

What we are seeing though is the same young people reliant on support for so long (by having further children) that not only they never get into a position to support the younger, but continue to be a drain to society.

That's when society can't cope any longer.

Exactly. Very well stated.

No5ChalksRoad · 25/10/2025 14:45

vivainsomnia · 25/10/2025 14:32

A well functioning society is one that support young adults being the best parents they can be. That is likely to include financial support from those further established in life.

However, for society to continue to offer support, it needs those previous young adults to themselves become well established and self-sufficient.

What we are seeing though is the same young people reliant on support for so long (by having further children) that not only they never get into a position to support the younger, but continue to be a drain to society.

That's when society can't cope any longer.

Exactly. Very well stated.

Unrulyscrumptious · 25/10/2025 14:45

vivainsomnia · 25/10/2025 14:42

Some people have conditions that means they can never work and will always rely on the state, and they are not entitled to a family the same as people better off to the point we should actually encourage them to be sterilised so accidents don't happen is what you're saying
No posters here has advocated that poor people should never have one child. The point is gave one, maybe two, but stick to that number, the same way people with more money are doing because they know that that is the best decision for their existing children. What is there to debate about this? That everyone should be Freetown have as many children as their heart desire and that it is right that it becomes the responsibility of society to make sure these additional children are not penalised?

Because the only way to enforce your 1-2 child limit in any real world sense in pretty fucking grim which is why no one wants to expand on how they think this should be done

Unrulyscrumptious · 25/10/2025 14:43

FrangipaniBlue · 25/10/2025 14:42

If they’ve already gone to the effort of using 2 condoms and the MAP then I think it’s highly unlikely that a termination would be “against their wishes”……

How so? Are you saying that by consenting to use a condom or the MAP a woman is consenting to a termination? Do you even know the different between contraception and abortion?

No5ChalksRoad · 25/10/2025 14:42

Ubertomusic · 25/10/2025 14:36

Ignorant of your expectations of lax immigrant policies to solve the dire problems of low birth rate society by attracting cheap labour from modern "colonies"?

Well, you stated it clearly, no one can be ignorant of your views now 😂

Perhaps you are unaware, but people emigrate from all over, not just (ugh) “colonies”.

FrangipaniBlue · 25/10/2025 14:42

Unrulyscrumptious · 25/10/2025 13:25

But the 16 year old is already pregnant. Two condoms and a MAP aren't going to make that go away,.so you're saying they have to terminate? Against their wishes.

You might call others stray cats but you're sounding like sociopath and very very angry. I'm not sure you had to actually work that hard not to fall pregnant if this is your true personality coming through.

If they’ve already gone to the effort of using 2 condoms and the MAP then I think it’s highly unlikely that a termination would be “against their wishes”……

Zavettimexico · 25/10/2025 14:42

ChesterDrawz · 25/10/2025 14:29

I was a teen in the 80s myself; it certainly didn't pass me by.

I was specifically talking about what I quoted: the post about being (paraphrasing) 'young dumb and in love and thinking a baby was a good idea and that a 16yo boy would get a job and support the family'

There's a big difference between that and 'getting caught out' accidentally.

I still don’t see the issue? 15 year olds think they’ve fallen in love and have a baby together tale as old as time. The only reason to be mad about it is the tax payers money argument but what 15 year old knows all about taxes?
@No5ChalksRoad holding it against someone that they were once young dumb and in love is batshittery

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