CNBC Tells Readers They Can Save Tons of Money By Not Having Kids. Here's How Parents Responded.

Cortney O'Brien | January 28, 2019 9:32 AM

CNBC rubbed some parents the wrong way last week when it tweeted out one of its recent exposes. In its research, it found that some individuals can save a huge chunk of change if they decide to skip having children.

You can save half a million dollars if you don't have kids. via @CNBCMakeIt https://t.co/y5newZGmhM
— CNBC (@CNBC) January 24, 2019

The author, Yoni Blumberg, starts his report by cutting right to the chase.

"Your friends may tell you having kids has made them happier," he writes. "They’re probably lying. Research shows that parenthood leads to a happiness gap. Maybe that’s because the pleasures of parenthood are outweighed by all the extra responsibilities, housework and, of course, the costs."

He breaks down the costs, from pregnancy, to food, childcare, college tuition, etc.

The average middle-income married couple spent between $12,350 and $13,900 on each of their children in 2015, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Extrapolate from that number and you’re looking at spending $233,610 per child from birth through age 17.
Higher-income families can expect to spend significantly more, around $372,210, while the data shows that lower-income families spend close to $174,690.

Middle-income families, he concluded, will spend roughly $730,420 total on kids. So, the gist is, proceed at your own peril.