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Absolutely, but your idea of enjoyment changes drastically when kids are in the picture. Date nights, day trips, or even just running errands solo come to recharge you the same way a 7- day cruise once did. For example, my husband I started a first-day-of-school tradition a couple of years back: since my classes start up the day after our kids' do, he takes the day off and we hop the train in NYC and make a day of it. We met up with our friends for lunch, wander around, or even catch a matinee if money allows, then get back in time to meet the school bus. Not quite as exhilarating as a child-free couple's life, but we enjoy it.
Would you fault the working class parents taking a ~$2500 cruise for 5 days? What about the hard working dad that buys a $1500 power tool to work on his hit rod?
But a half-way decent parent adjusts their wants to where it doesn't lower the child's standard of living.
That's how I see it. If I can't swing the music camp and the week-long cruise, then maybe I can do the kids' music camp and a less extravagant but equally restorative trip for myself locally. That's typically how it works around here anyway.
That's how I see it. If I can't swing the music camp and the week-long cruise, then maybe I can do the kids' music camp and a less extravagant but equally restorative trip for myself locally. That's typically how it works around here anyway.
But couldn't you cut out your trip all together and send your child to a better music camp or perhaps buy some private lessons with the best teacher in your town?
Would you fault the working class parents taking a ~$2500 cruise for 5 days? What about the hard working dad that buys a $1500 power tool to work on his hit rod?
Depends. Do they do it every year or once in a lifetime? Do they have an emergency fund or do they live paycheck to paycheck? Did they pay for their kid's braces or make him go without?
If a parent pursues any WANT they are lowing their child's standard of living...unless we're talking about the top 2-3% of income earners.
Nonsense. If a parent is living in the middle-middle class, and all that normally means, by giving up their "enjoyments" they would not magically move to the upper middle class. But what you are suggesting is parents raise children as lower middle class, so the parents can enjoy the trappings of an upper middle class lifestyle.
Go ahead, please explain how the hubby and I spending $200 a year on surfing lowered anyone's standard of living? Or how his xbox, and gamefly membership stopped my daughter from participating in our upper middle class lifestyle? Or date night? Go ahead add it all up, it is not going to move anyone into a different class. But given the expense of raising a child (some $250K for the AVERAGE american over 18 years) raising a child in the lower middle class can certainly purchase the luxuries of the upper. Which is what you are advocating anyway.
Depends. Do they do it every year or once in a lifetime? Do they have an emergency fund or do they live paycheck to paycheck? Did they pay for their kid's braces or make him go without?
They do it every year. Small emergency fund. They're somewhat paycheck to paycheck - typical working class folks. Child's healthcare is taken care of.
But couldn't you cut out your trip all together and send your child to a better music camp or perhaps buy some private lessons with the best teacher in your town?
Nice try but that does not change the lifestyle of the child. Music camp doesn't suddenly take a child from lower middle class to middle middle class.
But couldn't you cut out your trip all together and send your child to a better music camp or perhaps buy some private lessons with the best teacher in your town?
I don't understand the argument here. This is silly. You don't need to know the details of my family's choices.
Nonsense. If a parent is living in the middle-middle class, and all that normally means, by giving up their "enjoyments" they would not magically move to the upper middle class. But what you are suggesting is parents raise children as lower middle class, so the parents can enjoy the trappings of an upper middle class lifestyle.
They may not move up a class, but a few thousand dollars could certainly go toward the child in some way. Right? Perhaps better clothing, better food, better childcare, tutors, increasing the college fund, etc, etc.
Quote:
Go ahead, please explain how the hubby and I spending $200 a year on surfing lowered anyone's standard of living? Or how his xbox, and gamefly membership stopped my daughter from participating in our upper middle class lifestyle? Or date night? Go ahead add it all up, it is not going to move anyone into a different class. But given the expense of raising a child (some $250K for the AVERAGE american over 18 years) raising a child in the lower middle class can certainly purchase the luxuries of the upper. Which is what you are advocating anyway.
We aren't talking about enough money to move into another social class.
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