Can you afford a family?

The birth rate is down to its lowest point in a century and many people are saying the recession is the culprit.

The U.S. birth rate fell 2.7 percent last year, according to <a href=" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38881211/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/
“>a report from the National Center for Health Statistics. The rate started falling right around the same time as the economy in 2007.

I can see how an unstable financial situation could make you think twice about starting or growing a family. But I also think it’s a sad commentary on society that people are more willing to give up having children rather than just scale back on the amount of money they spend on their kids.

I know several parents who say they are waiting to start having children until they can give their offspring the perfect childhood. Well, guess what, guys? You’re going to be waiting a long time because all the money you can earn in a life time won’t buy that.

I do think it’s wise to make sure you can afford the necessities of food and clothing for children before jumping into parenthood, but I don’t agree with waiting to start a family because you can’t afford name-brand clothing and Gymboree classes.

The truth is you can make a dollar stretch as a mother. My kids couldn’t care less that they wear used clothing. I’d much rather have my daughter than a designer tag on a dress she will wear once and then smother in spaghetti sauce.

What do you think? What is driving the falling birth rate? Are people wise to hold off on children until they think they can afford it? What officially qualifies as enough money to start a family?