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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Hi everyone! I'm the OP. Thanks for the nice comments. One last post before I go to bed.  :-)

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Report back after you are married and have kids.[/quote]
This.  1000 times this.[/quote]

Why would that change anything? The conventional wisdom in fact is that if you want to save money, [i]get married young[/i]. But sure, let's dissect this real quick.

[u]Things that wouldn't change if I got married and had kids:[/u]
- Would still eat 99% home-cooked food and generic brands.
- Would still not buy alcohol.
- If my old car doesn't last then I'll buy a used car and use it the same way
- Same cheap $20/month phone plan
- Would still not pay for TV/cable.
- Would still hopefully have a job that pays all health and dental insurance for family.

[u]Things that would improve if I got married:[/u]
- Giant standard deduction from taxable income
- Tax credit for each kid I have
- Tax-deductible contributions to a joint retirement savings account. 
- If we buy and sell a home together, we don't have to pay taxes on the profit as long as it's not more than $500,000
- Could probably combine car insurance policies and get a discount.

[u]Things that would suck if I got married and had kids[/u]
- Having to pay more on living expenses, such as rent or mortgage, because I only have the DH's income to split it with as opposed to 4 roommates and plus I'd have to choose a slightly nicer apartment to make room for kid(s).
- Costs having a child. This is really the only major expense problem. So you start paying right from prenatal care to the actual birth in the hospital, then you lose income even on maternity leave, the clothes and car seat and baby food, etc. Plus I may need to start putting down at least $800 a month for the college fund.

In any case that baby had better get good grades and wrangle some scholarship money! Public school and public university or I'm not paying. I went to public schools and it turned out great for me.

With my lifestyle habits and two incomes, why the hell can't I raise a child and still live well with my class/income level?

Good night for now!
[/quote]

You're a lawyer who isn't even clearing $36k per year. I don't think you're doing that great.[/quote]

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