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Yeah. Go read the FAQ on how much it cost to raise a baby. I doubt the average teenager truly has that much cash just lying around.

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Lmao Seriously those cost predictors are such crap. It maybe costs us $2000 tops for the neccesities for our two sons. Add on birthdays and the etc maybe closer to $5000 (my fiance' is 19 and I'm 20) bu tthe extra is our choice. And if you use cloth diapers and washclothes, and breastfeed all you have to worry about for the first year is clothes and baby food. People hype up those costs so much is sad.

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Well if its so cheap then why is it that so many teen moms are on welfare and/or are on food stamps? Clearly if they have to rely on help and financial aid from the government (the TAXPAYERS) that it is NOT cheap.

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Well if its so cheap then why is it that so many teen moms are on welfare and/or are on food stamps? Clearly if they have to rely on help and financial aid from the government (the TAXPAYERS) that it is NOT cheap.

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We said it was cheap, not that it was free.

Sadly, few women of all ages opt to breastfeed. That means up to $200/month in formula costs alone. If you have no job whatsoever, how do you afford that? With WIC.

Combined with the fact that they're supporting themselves and their own costs as well. Expenses add up, even cheap ones. Rent, groceries for yourself, groceries for your child, diapers, wipes. Many not expensive in themselves but it adds up and for a girl who's probably spending 6 hours a day in school, the options for working and providing independently are slim to none. Thus, welfare/WIC/etc.

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Holly.
Mama to Hunter Kai
Still missing you, LML. (1941-2007). ♥
"Nothing is worth more than this day."

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Quote: from musicfan3 at 9:58 pm on July 5, 2009

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 Well if its so cheap then why is it that so many teen moms are on welfare and/or are on food stamps? Clearly if they have to rely on help and financial aid from the government (the TAXPAYERS) that it is NOT cheap.

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We said it was cheap, not that it was free.  

Sadly, few women of all ages opt to breastfeed. That means up to $200/month in formula costs alone. If you have no job whatsoever, how do you afford that? With WIC.  

Combined with the fact that they're supporting themselves and their own costs as well. Expenses add up, even cheap ones. Rent, groceries for yourself, groceries for your child, diapers, wipes. Many not expensive in themselves but it adds up and for a girl who's probably spending 6 hours a day in school, the options for working and providing independently are slim to none. Thus, welfare/WIC/etc.  

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But thats just for one girl and her baby. There are thousands of teen moms out there. Think about how much it cost us, the tax payers simply because they couldn't wait to have a baby when they were older and or the baby was an accident because they didn't have/use protection. Teen pregnancy is VERY preventable, but yet still its a huge problem. And thats why I think the world in general is so hard on them simply because they could of did things to prevent their situation   but did not. I mean just look at the amount of  "The  Condom Broke Accidently" topics found on here or even "Could I be Pregnant?" topics that clog up LW.

On top of that teen pregnancy seems to be some kind of trophy or achievement now. I mean at least it seems that way at my school where the girls waddle around in groups and talk almost excitedly about how closer their due dates are getting. To me its just baffling.

Most of the teen moms at my school are now longer with their babies' father. They receive free lunch at no cost to the them because by my school's standards they are living at poverty level. Most of them (if not all, c'mon we're talking about 15 and 16 year girls here.) are on welfare and food stamps. They rely on the grandparents of the baby to become a babysitter of their kid and often times this becomes a permeant full time job for the grandparents. So in essence the grandparents become parents AGAIN. The baby then becomes a burden that the grandparents must bare, not the teen.

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http://www.last.fm/user/Musicfanx3
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Quote: from musicfan3 at 9:58 pm on July 5, 2009

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 Well if its so cheap then why is it that so many teen moms are on welfare and/or are on food stamps? Clearly if they have to rely on help and financial aid from the government (the TAXPAYERS) that it is NOT cheap.

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We said it was cheap, not that it was free.  

Sadly, few women of all ages opt to breastfeed. That means up to $200/month in formula costs alone. If you have no job whatsoever, how do you afford that? With WIC.  

Combined with the fact that they're supporting themselves and their own costs as well. Expenses add up, even cheap ones. Rent, groceries for yourself, groceries for your child, diapers, wipes. Many not expensive in themselves but it adds up and for a girl who's probably spending 6 hours a day in school, the options for working and providing independently are slim to none. Thus, welfare/WIC/etc.  

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Like I said before most teens don't have the kind of money lying around right off the bat to raise their child. So then they have to rely on the government and tax payers for help and/ or the grandparents of the baby. My question to all of you is why should the burden of a teen mom's baby be financially put on the hardworking tax payers? Again the teen mom responsibility is here lessened and then put on the backs of the tax payers. It angers me to hear you say that a baby is not expensive. Its not expensive to the teen mom because its us, the taxpayers who has to pay for it.

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http://www.last.fm/user/Musicfanx3
NEW LASTFM

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Quote: from dunebug at 12:21 am on July 6, 2009

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Quote: from musicfan3 at 9:58 pm on July 5, 2009

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  Well if its so cheap then why is it that so many teen moms are on welfare and/or are on food stamps? Clearly if they have to rely on help and financial aid from the government (the TAXPAYERS) that it is NOT cheap.

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 We said it was cheap, not that it was free.

 Sadly, few women of all ages opt to breastfeed. That means up to $200/month in formula costs alone. If you have no job whatsoever, how do you afford that? With WIC.

 Combined with the fact that they're supporting themselves and their own costs as well. Expenses add up, even cheap ones. Rent, groceries for yourself, groceries for your child, diapers, wipes. Many not expensive in themselves but it adds up and for a girl who's probably spending 6 hours a day in school, the options for working and providing independently are slim to none. Thus, welfare/WIC/etc.

 

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Like I said before most teens don't have the kind of money lying around right off the bat to raise their child. So then they have to rely on the government and tax payers for help and/ or the grandparents of the baby. My question to all of you is why should the burden of a teen mom's baby be financially put on the hardworking tax payers? Again the teen mom responsibility is here lessened and then put on the backs of the tax payers. It angers me to hear you say that a baby is not expensive. Its not expensive to the teen mom because its us, the taxpayers who has to pay for it.

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Teens who get pregnant aren't the biggest welfare consumers. It's alot of drug dealers and single black moms. That and an overwhelming amount of people from other countries. And if by helping out teens at the first half makes them more capable of raising their family later on then why not? Most of the people from other countries will live the rest of their lives here never learning English. Most drug users/dealers will use welfare to fund thier addictions. And most single mothers who have 5-10 kids will never look to improve themselves. So why pick out the ones most likely to succeed and call them welfare mongers?

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Enrique's (21 months) and Chase's (2 months) mommy www.myspace.com/Chaya77

People who whine about taxes really should be booted out of the country. The actual percentage of taxes that go into funding welfare is so small that it's quite amusing how much ignorant people whine about it.

Taxes are a part of life. If it wasn't funding welfare, it would be funding something else and you'd probably whine about that too.

Statistically, teen parents use welfare for a shorter period than mothers who delay childbearing into 20s.

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Holly.
Mama to Hunter Kai
Still missing you, LML. (1941-2007). ♥
"Nothing is worth more than this day."

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Quote: from musicfan3 at 4:15 pm on July 6, 2009

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Quote: from dunebug at 12:21 am on July 6, 2009

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Quote: from musicfan3 at 9:58 pm on July 5, 2009

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  Well if its so cheap then why is it that so many teen moms are on welfare and/or are on food stamps? Clearly if they have to rely on help and financial aid from the government (the TAXPAYERS) that it is NOT cheap.

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  We said it was cheap, not that it was free.    

  Sadly, few women of all ages opt to breastfeed. That means up to $200/month in formula costs alone. If you have no job whatsoever, how do you afford that? With WIC.    

  Combined with the fact that they're supporting themselves and their own costs as well. Expenses add up, even cheap ones. Rent, groceries for yourself, groceries for your child, diapers, wipes. Many not expensive in themselves but it adds up and for a girl who's probably spending 6 hours a day in school, the options for working and providing independently are slim to none. Thus, welfare/WIC/etc.    

 

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 Like I said before most teens don't have the kind of money lying around right off the bat to raise their child. So then they have to rely on the government and tax payers for help and/ or the grandparents of the baby. My question to all of you is why should the burden of a teen mom's baby be financially put on the hardworking tax payers? Again the teen mom responsibility is here lessened and then put on the backs of the tax payers. It angers me to hear you say that a baby is not expensive. Its not expensive to the teen mom because its us, the taxpayers who has to pay for it.

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Teens who get pregnant aren't the biggest welfare consumers. It's alot of drug dealers and single black moms. That and an overwhelming amount of people from other countries. And if by helping out teens at the first half makes them more capable of raising their family later on then why not? Most of the people from other countries will live the rest of their lives here never learning English. Most drug users/dealers will use welfare to fund thier addictions. And most single mothers who have 5-10 kids will never look to improve themselves. So why pick out the ones most likely to succeed and call them welfare mongers?

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Most teen moms are single because the fathers leave so they cannot be excluded from the single mothers group.

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http://www.last.fm/user/Musicfanx3
NEW LASTFM

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Because you live in a largely socialist society, deal with it. Dislike it? Move elsewhere.  

People who whine about taxes really should be booted out of the country. The actual percentage of taxes that go into funding welfare is so small that it's quite amusing how much ignorant people whine about it.  

Taxes are a part of life. If it wasn't funding welfare, it would be funding something else and you'd probably whine about that too.

Statistically, teen parents use welfare for a shorter period than mothers who delay childbearing into 20s.

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Okay but someone who is in their 20s is going to be more able to hold and maintain a job compared to a 15 year old.

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http://www.last.fm/user/Musicfanx3
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Okay but someone who is in their 20s is going to be more able to hold and maintain a job compared to a 15 year old.

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And thus why social aid exists. So that, for the period between 15-18, the young mother can get on her feet, finish school and then get a job and repay what she's taken and support others as well.

Quote: from musicfan3 at 1:57 pm on July 7, 2009

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Most teen moms are single because the fathers leave so they cannot be excluded from the single mothers group.

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Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. If you actually believe that, you really shouldn't even be on this board because that is, without doubt, one of the most ignorant statements I've ever heard.  

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Holly.
Mama to Hunter Kai
Still missing you, LML. (1941-2007). ♥
"Nothing is worth more than this day."

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Quote: from musicfan3 at 11:54 am on July 3, 2009

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Well one babies aren't cheap. They have lots of expenses. A teenager with no education is not going to have the job skills to be able to obtain a job to fully provide and support for their child.

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They actually are. People make them expensive by making unwise or extensive purchases. Parents who insist on nurseries and designer clothes and buying everything new.  

People make babies expensive because they turn them into little cult/designer objects. Babies essentially need diapers, clothes, a simple safe place to sleep and food.

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Post edited at 3:20 pm on July 7, 2009 by Clara Bell

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Hi, my name is-
You won't remember...
S » G

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Are you serious? Babies ARE expensive, even with just the basic neccessities. Think about how many diapers they go through, and how fast they grow. Also, the cost of raising a baby includes transportation expenses. And what if you have to work? Then you have to factor in child care. There's also doctor expenses, to make sure your baby is in good health.
It's more than just car seats and clothes.

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I think at the height of our diaper use, we spent $100 maybe $150/month on diapers. Teenagers spend nearly that much on one video game ($60-$80 not including tax).

Growing is free. I spent maybe $100-$200/YEAR on clothes because I wasn't a vain idiot and I bought second-hand. Kids use things so shortly that most clothes are in perfect condition but I paid 50 cents for the tshirts instead of $15+.

Transportation depends on your area. I personally walk and take the bus an unlimited monthly bus pass is $75/month.

Medical is an issue if you're down in the States, but it's not too bad here in Canada. Dental isn't covered but most kids don't even see a Dentist here until 2-3. Hunter saw one for the first time a few months ago and I think we paid $80 for the visit which happens once a year.

*shrug* It's all in how you choose to do it. They actually become more expensive as they get older.


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Holly.
Mama to Hunter Kai
Still missing you, LML. (1941-2007). ♥
"Nothing is worth more than this day."

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cuz they shoulda kept their legs closed. 13-18 is too young in my book.

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Quote: from dunebug at 2:18 am on July 4, 2009

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Quote: from musicfan3 at 11:54 am on July 3, 2009

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 Well one babies aren't cheap. They have lots of expenses. A teenager with no education is not going to have the job skills to be able to obtain a job to fully provide and support for their child.

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They actually are. People make them expensive by making unwise or extensive purchases. Parents who insist on nurseries and designer clothes and buying everything new.

People make babies expensive because they turn them into little cult/designer objects. Babies essentially need diapers, clothes, a simple safe place to sleep and food.

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Are you serious? Babies ARE expensive, even with just the basic neccessities. Think about how many diapers they go through, and how fast they grow. Also, the cost of raising a baby includes transportation expenses. And what if you have to work? Then you have to factor in child care. There's also doctor expenses, to make sure your baby is in good health.
It's more than just car seats and clothes.

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We have two and they haven't been too expensive for us. With two in diapers we spend less than $100 a month on them. Factor in wipes and it turns into $100. Clothes have been bought by grandparents and adoring family members since they're the only babies in the family (not that we couldn't buy them some if we need to it's just everyone thinks it's great to buy new outfits for the babies). Formula was our biggest cost with our first (around $200 a month) but I breastfeed Chase for the most part so we spend $40 a month on two things of formula for when I'm at work. Childcare costs have been 0 since Oscar and I can work our scheduals around each other. With Chase our biggest costs have been our co-pays for his hospital visits because he contracted RSV which has turned into bronchialitis. That along with the jaundice and billie blankets when he was just out of the hospital.

All in all we spend less than $2,000 a month on total costs.

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Enrique's (21 months) and Chase's (2 months) mommy www.myspace.com/Chaya77

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Quote: from musicfan3 at 1:57 pm on July 7, 2009

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 Okay but someone who is in their 20s is going to be more able to hold and maintain a job compared to a 15 year old.

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And thus why social aid exists. So that, for the period between 15-18, the young mother can get on her feet, finish school and then get a job and repay what she's taken and support others as well.

 
Quote: from musicfan3 at 1:57 pm on July 7, 2009

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 Most teen moms are single because the fathers leave so they cannot be excluded from the single mothers group.

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Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. If you actually believe that, you really shouldn't even be on this board because that is, without doubt, one of the most ignorant statements I've ever heard.

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That is not a general statement at all. A good portion of babies born to teen mothers are fatherless because the dad simply backed out from his responsibilities after finding out that the teen mom was pregnant. At my school, the teen mom is lucky is she is still in contact with the father of her child. Simply giving child support doesn't make anyone a father.

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http://www.last.fm/user/Musicfanx3
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And thus why social aid exists. So that, for the period between 15-18, the young mother can get on her feet, finish school and then get a job and repay what she's taken and support others as well.

 
But see my point is that it should NOT have to exist. Kids don't need to be having kids. They're simply not ready if they going to be so dependent on someone or something else for so much help.  

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http://www.last.fm/user/Musicfanx3
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