They should be considered for the same reason you should look at a vehicle purchase as the total amount of money you owe on it instead of just the monthly payment (if you took out a loan to pay for it); so you know just how much debt you are assuming. For example, my husband and I have our vehicle’s loan payed off, but we still have to pay for car insurance, gas, oil changes, registration, etc.
Well said, Katherine. ANY purchase you make should be thought through carefully as you consider the ongoing costs that will accompany that purchase. Whether we are talking about “stuff” like cars, boats, clothing, phones, etc. or home improvements like a pool or sprinkler system, we MUST consider what those things will cost us over a years time.
This also includes our wonderful pets and children. Finding out how expensive they are AFTER the fact is unwise and irresponsible. That might sound a bit harsh, but it’s not nearly as harsh as what happens to thousands of animals being euthanized every year or watching thousands of kids being neglected, abused and malnourished by parents who are ill-equipped to deal with them. The responsible and mature adult considers all of these costs before they proceed forward with their plans.
They should be considered for the same reason you should look at a vehicle purchase as the total amount of money you owe on it instead of just the monthly payment (if you took out a loan to pay for it); so you know just how much debt you are assuming. For example, my husband and I have our vehicle’s loan payed off, but we still have to pay for car insurance, gas, oil changes, registration, etc.
Well said, Katherine. ANY purchase you make should be thought through carefully as you consider the ongoing costs that will accompany that purchase. Whether we are talking about “stuff” like cars, boats, clothing, phones, etc. or home improvements like a pool or sprinkler system, we MUST consider what those things will cost us over a years time.
This also includes our wonderful pets and children. Finding out how expensive they are AFTER the fact is unwise and irresponsible. That might sound a bit harsh, but it’s not nearly as harsh as what happens to thousands of animals being euthanized every year or watching thousands of kids being neglected, abused and malnourished by parents who are ill-equipped to deal with them. The responsible and mature adult considers all of these costs before they proceed forward with their plans.