Important Life Choices That Determine Success

9. Do You Want To Have Children?

Back in 1970, the average age a woman started having children was 21 years old. Today, the average age has gone up to 26. Moreover, according to The New York Times, people in more success-driven cities like New York and San Francisco don’t start having kids until their 30s. People are waiting a lot longer to have kids because more people are going to college and focusing on establishing their lives before settling down. Children are also a genuinely massive expense over a lifetime, so your financial planning will need to factor in the high cost of raising children.

If you are nearing the age of 30 and haven’t had children yet, you might be feeling pressure from friends and family to become a parent. You need to decide if it’s something you truly want for yourself and your partner. There is no shame in having a childless marriage if this is what you want from life. What would be worse is bringing a child into the world when you don’t want them. And if you’re going to have kids, you need to make sure you are in the best situation possible to take care of them.