Can’t Afford a Family – Part 2

Think you can’t afford children?

Born on an Indian reservation, my grandmother’s crib was a vacant dresser drawer. They had very little money, but God provided. My wife’s parents had five preschoolers in a two-bedroom, one-bath house. This was normal in our generation.

Raising children today is possible by sacrificing for the greater good of a family. Reject financial fear and renew your mind on truth. Psalm 127 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.”

The key is early preparation. Create a budget that enables you to save while paying off debt. Adjust your lifestyle dramatically, if needed. This builds margin, especially if housing and vehicle expenses can be reduced. Limit time on social media to avoid impulse spending or the desire for perceived needs. Sell what you don’t need. Increase contributions to your Health Savings Account (HSA) so tax-free dollars can be used for medical expenses. Buy groceries regularly and cook at home. Find free entertainment and reduce your subscriptions and streaming.

Learn to be content with simplicity with like-minded friends who share your values. Hopefully, you’ll have a baby shower, so you don’t have to spend money until absolutely necessary. If and when things are needed, you can borrow from family or friends, or shop Facebook Marketplace and thrift stores.

Ask the Lord to provide. Don’t rob yourself of the joy of having your prayers answered by impatiently getting ahead of Him. He can provide in amazing ways! 

And if credit card debt is preventing you from having children, Christian Credit Counselors will help. They’ll create a debt management plan just for you. For more information, visit online at crown.org/ccc