'Raising Kid Runs Into Crores': Reddit User Says 'Parenthood Often Undoes Years Of Financial Progress'

In a country where having children is often seen as a natural progression after marriage, a Reddit post is gaining traction for challenging that norm. A 31-year-old unmarried man has called his decision to remain child-free the “best financial and mental health decision anyone can take.”

“This might sound a bit controversial, but I said what I said,” he wrote in his post.

At the centre of his argument was the immense financial responsibility that comes with raising a child, something he believes many couples often underestimate. “Raising a child comfortably in urban India easily runs into crores over 18-20 years," he says, adding, “Think of all the things you could do with that money if no kids.”

According to him, parenthood often undoes years of financial progress, especially when the decision is made without adequate thought. Beyond the cost, he highlights the lifestyle shift that parenthood demands, one that, in his view, takes a toll on mental peace and freedom. “Today is a weekend,” he writes, adding “And I see parents in my society not sleeping in, but driving their children around to some dance/karate/swimming, etc., classes.”

For him, the idea of repeating the school routine, this time as a parent, seems exhausting. “Feels like we just finished our own school/college days, and I can't imagine how anyone could re-live it all over again.”

The Reddit user also critiques the cultural narrative that places parenthood on a pedestal. “Mothers are put on a pedestal and expected to be all noble & self-sacrificing for the kids/family while expecting nothing in return,” he writes.

He finds this mindset regressive and believes it often pressures women into roles they may not truly want.

“Most couples don’t decide to have kids — they just end up having them. At most, they plan ‘when’ to have kids, but not ‘should’ we have kids,” the post added.

He’s quick to clarify that his post isn’t an attack on parenthood or those who choose it. Instead, he urges people to reflect on what they really want. “Parenthood isn’t compulsory. It’s okay to opt out and say, ‘That life is not for me.’”

The post resonated with many Reddit users, sparking a variety of responses.

One user observed a shift in societal attitudes, saying, “These days, more people are choosing not to have kids. Life is expensive, work consumes most of our time, and there’s hardly any support system.”

Another user, a mother of two, shared a candid take from her experience. “Not because I regret having kids (will be a long time before I can comment on that), but because it is indeed a thankless and relentless job, and I agree that not having kids is a perfectly valid and understandable choice.”

One user, a “childfree person,” wrote, “Some people are not built to be parents and I am one of them. I enjoy my time and like to spend the way I want. That freedom is priceless.”

Another comment read, “I can pretty much vouch that I like my privacy and I don't have what it takes to raise a kid. I can't run around all the time taking care of a kid.”

Together, these reflections outline the fact that in today’s economic and social conditions, the decision to have children is very complex and deeply personal.