https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:48:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-968897 Sat, 27 Jul 2013 11:31:24 +0000 dc yoga bee 968897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mmm probably the same. My dad was a doctor, I'm a lawyer, and hubs is an internal auditor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-968869 Sat, 27 Jul 2013 10:59:19 +0000 bisous 968869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope so, but we will see! My parents had to scrape by when I was young--I never really noticed. As I grew up, and they went back to school/grew in their career fields, our family was much more comfortable financially. I would say we are "comfortable" now, but not to the same degree. Hoping to get there so we can one day pay for our LO's college tuition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-968849 Sat, 27 Jul 2013 10:50:23 +0000 808love 968849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Way better than both of us. Our parents both never owned a house until they were in the fifties and no college education. Both DH and i put ourselves through college so we have much more. We do spoil our LO. She has had more trips, classes and outings in two years than we have had in our entire childhood. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-968368 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 22:35:31 +0000 MissyKris 968368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Better than me, not even close, but better than DH financially. Emotionally we are both from beyond loving parents parents who would bend over backwards if we needed help any day! They are all so ready to love on this baby... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-968286 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 21:54:12 +0000 mlm2934 968286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely. I had a great childhood, don't get me wrong, but we didn't have a nice house or go on vacations. I make as much now as my dad did before he retired.</p> <p>I was a first generation college grad in my family line. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-968266 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 21:45:54 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 968266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>SIGNIFICANTLY.</p> <p>We always had what we needed, but we were raised by a single mom:) we were loved &amp; cared for, but not rich, or even close to it. We were juuuuust comfortable.<br /> My dh was raised with money. But still, he makes more than his dad does &amp; when I start work, I will be adding fun money to it.<br /> Lo will be doing well....until he's out of college, at that point, he needs to have his act together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-968082 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 20:27:39 +0000 matador84 968082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Yes!!! I have said before, I teach (well taught, I recently got promoted) in a high-poverty school. We have an on campus GED program to get kids parents just that extra step out of poverty and on the right track to college...and it is AMAZING to see them believe in the power of a college degree! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-968069 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 20:18:48 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 968069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84: Isn't it amazing what a leg up a degree gives?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-968066 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 20:17:50 +0000 matador84 968066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely...my parents worked opposite shifts, blue collar work. No college education. Husband and I are both degreed, and do well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-968062 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 20:15:47 +0000 PurplePeony 968062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. Our parents are all extremely hardworking people who have never ended up with much to show for it. DH and I work what seems like half as hard, for four times the pay. I never went without things I needed, and only sometimes without things I wanted, but there's no denying that DH and I live a far more comfortable life than my parents ever dreamed of. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-967771 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 17:27:42 +0000 SugarplumsMom 967771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. My parents had me young, they were also new immigrants and money was tight early on. However, when I got older and our family business was prospering, there was a time when I could have gone anywhere and shopped like crazy - money wasn't an issue. But that phase didn't last long.</p> <p>DD will have the stability I never had. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-967687 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 16:45:03 +0000 SweetMamaM 967687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure... The housing market was definitely easier back then and both of us were born into houses that our parents owned. My parents went through a rough time financially around my sister's diagnosis and DH's family are crop growers so there have always been fluctuations around how much they've annually earned. DH's income will be far more stable, and hopefully we won't have the medical costs my family incurred. It's also my hope that I'll be able to return to semi-full time employment once the kids are at school, something my mother was never able to do. DH will probably never have the earning potential that my dad does, but I feel like we'll probably end up slightly ahead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-967236 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 13:45:47 +0000 jedeve 967236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will say both our parents did not spoil us. We shared rooms and wore hand me downs and never ate out. On the other hand, my mom was adamant we not work in high school because she worked three jobs when she was. She also spoiled us at christmas because Santa couldn't bring her much. And she would buy us expensive christmas and Easter outfits when we were little. But we knew we could just never ask for a toy or a new outfit in high school and get it randomly or anything like that! </p> <p>I know DH could do well for himself as a lawyer. I firmly believe in the spend half as much money and twice as much time on your kids. And I know our kids will appreciate being helped out with college more than having a nursery. I still feel a little guilty that they might not be as well off. I am always telling my DH I'd rather him make less and be home more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-967045 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 12:24:23 +0000 2PeasinaPod 967045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes...both financially and emotionally (I hope). Both DH and I work, so we're definitely better off than my parents were, and I think we have a better foundation for our marriage than both of our sets of parents do. We're much more considerate of each other than any of our parents are of each other, and we hope to instill that in S. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially/page/2#post-967036 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 12:21:10 +0000 Weagle 967036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Than me? No. I'm an only child, my parents both make 6 figures, and I grew up in an area where the cost of living is so low it's almost laughable. Than DH? I'm not sure. He certainly had more than he needed, but his parents are pretty private about money and live very conservatively, so we really have no clue what their financial situation has been like over the years. </p> <p>We may not be able to pay for the entirety of their college, and we live in a very high priced area, but our kids will be we'll provided for. And I know our parents will be quite generous towards them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-967031 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 12:19:13 +0000 Grace 967031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. We didn't have much money growing up, so it will be nice that my kids won't have that worry like I did. So they will be better off, in that they'll get to do more activities and we'll go on vacation. But, they still won't be getting designer clothes and new gadgets all the time. Just because our family will have more money growing up than I did does not mean my kids are getting a bunch of useless stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-967025 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 12:17:08 +0000 BlueWolverine 967025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>WAAAAAY better. We were on food stamps for a good portion of my youth. My single mom was trying her best, but needed that help. She got married to an asshole when I was in 5th grade, so $$ got better. I don't know if my quality of life did, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-967024 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 12:16:59 +0000 Honeybee 967024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: We all have our own bitternesses/regrets. My parents assumed I was self-sufficient (and to be honest they had a lot of other worries) so I was mostly just left alone, which is probably where most of my heartache comes from. it's still hard for a kid, in situations like ours, and I'm glad my kids won't have to experience those struggles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-967008 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 12:12:13 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 967008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: I will always be a little bitter that my contributions were required from such an early age. I was a saver my whole life, so it was very sad to see that bank account go to keep the family going (though I know that I should be happy that I was able to contribute). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-966996 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 12:08:26 +0000 Honeybee 966996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Haha, very true. I think my parents just relied on us to help contribute to the family. It was hard, but it taught me a lot about very hard work from a young age. It also helped that everyone around us was dirt poor (and some even worse) so I thought that level of living was "normal" until I got to college. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-966984 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 12:04:36 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 966984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: We didn't have that and I'm very grateful. However, any extra that we ever had always had to be plowed back into the business. It truly was a stressful situation . I feel like my family relied on religious faith a lot saying that we would be provided for... but that's not a very good financial plan! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-966972 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 11:58:21 +0000 Honeybee 966972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Aside from a very low income, my parents were saddled with ridiculous amounts of medical debts that made life very hard for us. I know you and I grew up in similar situations and are now raising our children in much different sitautions. I'm grateful for the opportunities that allowed us to be where we are today, even the struggles and difficult times. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-966961 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 11:54:26 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 966961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: Ditto exactly. My dad did HVAC, my mom was SAHM to 4 kids. We lived close to poverty if not in it for much of my upbringing. My parents still strove to give me the wonderful education that I received and for that I will be forever grateful... But yeah, we're in a whole different category. I anticipate the only way the lights will go out when our girls are doing homework is because of a storm... not because of the bill! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-966954 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 11:52:30 +0000 blackbird 966954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Better than me? No. Better than DH? By far. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-966953 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 11:52:21 +0000 LemonLong 966953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents were young (they were 19 when my oldest sibling was born) with three kids living in a rural area so my LO will have it better than I did growing up (We probably make 2 or 3 times what my parents did) however DH grew up pretty wealthy so I don't think we will reach that point of wealth. We're pretty comfortable though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-966950 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 11:51:41 +0000 Crisark 966950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-966946 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 11:51:12 +0000 littlek 966946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-966942 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 11:50:21 +0000 MsLipGloss 966942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. Significantly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-966937 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 11:49:08 +0000 shopaholic 966937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Better off than me, probably about the same or worse than DH. My parents never saved for a college fund, but K already has a good chunk to start off with. But I think we will be worse off than both of our parents. They came up in a time of good real estate investments vs. our housing prices. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-your-lo-be-better-off-than-you-were-as-a-kid-financially#post-966892 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 11:41:04 +0000 NCSUchick27 966892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am pretty sure our children will be better off financially than we were. DH's parents got married and had children right out of high school. They never went to college. My parents were a little older when they had me, but they still never went to college. </p> <p>DH's parent are horrible with money, and I worry about us possibly having to help them out when they have to retire (they hardly have anything saved). My parents are actually pretty good with money, mostly thanks to my mom. I was better off than DH was because I was an only child.</p> <p>DH and I both went to college and we have great jobs. We tend to be quite frugal about most things, and we are already putting a good bit of money towards retirement. </p>