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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here- thanks everyone for the reality check!

We live comfortably now, but feel as though savings are accruing at the world's slowest rate. In terms of expenditures we can cut back on... I do love to travel and admittedly prioritize that,[b] but that's something that I don't want to eliminate[/b] (bring down costs/cut back, on the other hand, will be absolutely necessary). I know raising a child in an apartment is possible, but it feels like throwing money away instead of actually building wealth. One of my big worries is the cost of childcare. We don't live near our parents. Mine live in an even more expensive area, and his live in an undesirable (for us) rural area.  It doesn't help that most of our friends are not interested in kids, or feel not ready yet. It doesn't feel like we will have a large support network when we take this plunge.

I appreciate the sentiment that no time is perfect, and we have to just go ahead and do it if we want children.  I've wanted them my whole life, and I know we will make it work. [/quote]

I think this is going to be a big reality check for you. My kids have made my life better in countless ways, but traveling with children is freaking hard and like 1/100th as fun as it was pre-kids. Most parents I know no longer go on vacations without extended family because it’s just not a vacation. And I don’t view a vacation with my MIL as a vacation either. And you can arrange for childcare so you and spouse go alone but a)it gets very complicated logistically and b) despite knowing how deserving you are a real vacation, 30% is spent reminding caregivers of schedules and missing them or feeling bad about not being with your kids/bringing them with.

TLDR: you will no doubt cut down on travel.  [/quote]

I think this is relative.  I agree that travel with kids is very different, but we have continued to travel even with small kids and I would say our travel budget has only increased because we feel like we need more to make it comfortable (nonstop flights, a suite, etc.).  I know many people do cut travel but many people don't want to and don't.[/quote]

NP. Agree re higher costs with kids on trips. Still do it anyway because it’s something we like. We are also lucky that my mother can watch my son when we travel, so we still take at least 2 solo trips a year, albeit shorter than if we didn’t have him. Still worth it (and at least makes those trips a bit cheaper)[/quote]

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