re: What is a good income to raise kids on?

Just take your current income and add $25,000 and that is what you should make in order to raise a child and not change anything you do now. The added cost will go up as they get older, but in theory so should your income.

I feel like if you can comfortably care for yourself now, you could make it work just fine with a kid. Things will change, and you will not spend as much on things like going out, eating out, random spontaneous purchases for yourself (hopefully), and that money will go to providing for your child.

Unless you plan on treating your child like an American Girl Doll with their clothing, or making sure they have every toy that hits the market, you should be ok assuming the above variables.

Austin welfare queen said you all suckas

Look into a term called the hedonic treadmill. Experts have deduced that a person stops gaining happiness from money after about $75k per year. Obviously, this fluctuates with children and cost of living but it's not really as high as I'd thought it be.

Kids are cheap until they hit about 5yrs old. Start now, worry about it later.

One of 3 kids. Ate out every night and had a relaxing environment with steak and shoes and private school tuition flowing on 150k a year. College was a bit tight, but for 3 kids, 150k is comfortable. Any less than that and it becomes uncomfortable