Reshma Saujani says having kids in US is now a financial decision

Reshma Saujani said that the decision to have children in the U.S. has become a primarily financial consideration [1, 3].

This perspective highlights a growing tension between biological desires and economic reality for millions of adults. As the cost of living and childcare rises, the ability to start or expand a family is increasingly tied to wealth and income stability rather than personal choice alone.

Saujani, who founded Girls Who Code and Moms First, discussed these pressures during a series of interviews and a podcast appearance. In a conversation with NBC News, she said, "Having kids is absolutely a financial decision" ^[1]. She said that the economic environment creates a barrier for those who wish to become parents but lack the necessary financial security.

During a CNBC podcast on May 19, Saujani expanded on the systemic challenges facing parents in the U.S. ^[2]. She said, "Motherhood in America is impossible by design" ^[2]. This statement suggests that the lack of institutional support, such as affordable childcare and paid leave, is not an accident but a result of how the current system is structured.

Saujani's advocacy through Moms First focuses on the intersection of motherhood and the economy. She said that the pressures of the modern workforce, combined with the rising costs of raising a child, force prospective parents to conduct a cost-benefit analysis before deciding to conceive [1, 2].

By framing parenthood as a financial calculation, Saujani points to a shift where the fundamental act of starting a family is mediated by economic status. Her comments reflect a broader national conversation regarding the sustainability of the current American family model in the face of persistent inflation and stagnant wages [2, 3].