Money in a relationship – a tricky subject. When children come into play, things get even more complicated. Financial expert Natascha Wegelin, aka “Madame Moneypenny,” explains how parents can have less stress with their finances.
This interview comes from the stern archive and first appeared in September 2023.
Ms. Wegelin, what does a financial expert who recently became a mother herself say about sayings like “children are expensive” or “you have to be able to afford a child”? Does your motherly heart protest, or do you immediately start doing the math?
Despite all the joys of being a mother, it is undeniable that children cost money. There is a new family member who needs to be looked after. They want clothes and food and later go on school trips and get a driver’s license. By the time a child is grown up, it costs parents a six-figure sum. Of course, money is not the first thing you think of when you want children. Nevertheless, I think it is important to ask yourself the rational question: How can we afford it? In the end, a lot is a matter of planning.
Source: Stern
