Melissa’s Blog

Weekdays 6-10am

UNDISCLOSED, GERMANY - AUGUST 12: A 4-day-old newborn baby, who has been placed among empty baby beds by the photographer, lies in a baby bed in the maternity ward of a hospital (a spokesperson for the hospital asked that the hospital not be named) on August 12, 2011 in a city in the east German state of Brandenburg, Germany. According to data released by Eurostat last week Germany, with 8.3 births per 1,000 people, has the lowest birth rate in all of Europe. Eastern Germany, which not only suffers from a low birth rate, also has a declining population due to young people moving away because of high unemployment in the region. Europe as a whole suffers from a low birth rate and a growing elderly population. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

You have to make sacrifices when you have kids.  And a lot of it tends to fall on the woman, especially when both people are working.  So what do you think about this?

Some guy posted on Reddit after his wife told him she’ll only have a baby if he agrees to PAY her $50,000 to do it.  Here’s why . . .

Both are big earners.  They make about $175,000 each.  They’ve been together six years and aren’t legally married, but they did a commitment ceremony two years ago.

They’ve always kept their finances separate and split everything 50/50, including their mortgage.  And they both want kids.  But she recently found out that when she goes on maternity leave, her company will only pay 50% of her salary for six months.

Because of that, she thinks he should have to help out financially and cover $50,000 of that salary.  Otherwise, she’s the only one taking a financial hit.

She also found out she can take an additional six months off, but won’t get paid at all.  So if she decides to take more than six months, she wants him to pay another $50,000.

People online are split about it.  Some think it’s a fair request since they’ve always kept their finances separate.  But the guy says it just feels gross and “transactional,” like she’s asking him to bribe her to have a baby.

What are the 8 most expensive cities to raise children?

  • 8. ROCKLAND COUNTY, NEW YORK

    It costs $11,298 per month — $2,826 in child care alone.

  • 7. PUTNAM COUNTY, NEW YORK

    It costs a family of four $138,756 to pay the bills in this area, where the median family income is $116,190.

  • 6. SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK

    Child care on average it costs $34,476 per year. The cost to just get by? $11,564 per month.

    Suffolk County, New York - Wikipedia

    United States Suffolk County () is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of New York. It is mainly located on the eastern end of Long Island, however there are several islands that are also part of Suffolk County.

  • 5. NEW YORK CITY

    NYC requires $139,788 each year for a family to get by. 

  • 4. NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

    Nassau County’s high child care costs ($2,908 a month on average) is the biggest contributor to being #4 on this list 

    Nassau County, New York - Wikipedia

    Nassau County is situated on western Long Island, bordering New York City's borough of Queens to the west, and Suffolk County to the east. It is the most densely populated and second-most populous county in New York State outside of New York City, with which it maintains extensive rail and highway connectivity, and is considered one of the central counties within the New York metropolitan area.

  • 3. SAN FRANCISCO

    Between the extremely high housing costs and an average $20,064 a year in childcare costs…that’s what makes San Fran #3

  • 2. MATANUSKA-SUSITNA BOROUGH, ALASKA

    Raising children here costs families $9,460 a month — or $113,520 a year.

  • 1. SAN MATEO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

    Topping the list because  a family of four needs $13,024 per month just to get by. Child care here is particularly pricey at $21,444 per year on average.