A Boring Dystopia

We're DINKs just starting to push into the "living a comfortable life" range. As in, we can do what we want and enjoy doing it.

However, bringing a kid into that picture throws all of that away. Hospital bills, diapers, just the costs in general would wipe us out.

We most likely wouldn't qualify for any reimbursements and are already maximizing the ones we have such as house financing and taxes.

I obsessively try to keep my "IOUs" to a minimum meaning aggressive mortgage payments and credit cards within the limitations of what I can pay off immediately but even that is difficult.

The house needs work - new siding and windows, unexpected issues like the boiler dieing etc. And I'm generally fearful of what we'd find behind the siding (termites??? everything not up to code?) A new job like that could turn into $40-50K that we just don't have floating around.

I don't go to doctors because I was afraid of what I might find. I'm lucky in the fact that my insurance is now pushing in the correct direction but still ludicrously expensive... And I mean ludicrously for the lack of services available that won't cost me an additional fortune.

The wife also works a must-commute 9-5. Not sure how she, or both of us would be able to handle childcare needs and not feel like we would be neglecting the kid.

When would I ever be able to afford a kid in these situations?

And I am lucky to say that we are DINKs that are getting paid relatively well... How can people that are below us in income survive having kids?