> But the two largest costs to our finances are ridiculously outsized: Child Care and Health Care.

I thought the same thing. We pay 5.5k for two kids per month.

But then I looked at the regulations on professional child care. You need one certified worker and 250 sq.ft. of indoor space (in an expensive city) per 4 kids. After professional insurance, healthcare and other ancillary wage costs, there's really not that much left for the salary of that worker.

So I guess I understand the price of childcare. I support it, even. I don't want my kids to be looked after by a stressed out carer on minimum wage looking after 10 kids at once.

If we want to lower the cost of childcare, the only option would be billions in subsidies. Might make a dent in the fertility crisis.

There's a "middle class dip" where one spouse working barely makes enough to cover the increased costs from child care and other incidentals (like eating out more often).

The poor either have a non-working spouse or get subsidized child care, and the rich don't know what a banana costs.

Curious where you live that healthcare is more than housing?

Insurance is the problem.

Like it's not even close. I pay about the same per mile for it as I do fuel (!!!!). The cost of my shitty cars is a rounding error. Tires are a rounding error. And my driving record is squeaky clean for close to a decade now. I'm sure they're screwing me for being a statistical contradiction (high income, not diverse, lives in zip code and drives cars opposite of that) because insurance generally hates anything that doesn't conform to the fat parts of the bell curve but it's still insane.

The story on the house side of things is similar. You add in health and the sum total of insuring my life is within spitting distance of my mortgage. I could shove the money into bonds and in all but the worst cases come out ahead, pick stocks and the comparison gets even worse.

It doesn't have to be a expensive. Buy an older cheaper car, don't put comprehensive insurance on it. If you don't drive it much, there's really not that much maintenance work. Pretty much just an annual oil change.

I have an old jeep that I use for local driving. Bought it for about $5k. I live in Michigan, where insurance premiums are top 5 in the nation. I pay $60/month for insurance. Probably could get it lower with a bit more shopping around.

Total maintenance has been $150 for a set of used tires that will dry-rot before I kill the rest of the tread.

> Instead, I decided to book some motorcycle lessons so I can use a $3000 moto. But then I need to pay for life insurance!

Don't forget disability insurance. And fill out your organ donation card!

You're not really going to come out ahead on a $3000 motorcycle. Factor in gear, maintenance (more intensive per mile than a corolla), and it's hard to make the math work. You have to enjoy riding.

In Houston, I wouldn't even consider a vehicle without A/C!

What is the purpose of life insurance or you have no kids (or dependent parents/spouse I suppose)?

I guess to pay for your funeral costs if cashing out all your savings and possessions wouldn't cover that?

Motorcycles are better at making your cost of living permanently higher via serious injury than any minor cost savings over automobiles.

aka penny-wise pound-foolish

They are a lot of fun though (I rode a liter bike for years)

In Florida there are "Lottery Winner" style billboards everywhere for auto accident lawyers and other ambulance chasers. This is what helps keep insurance premiums high for everyone and unless you are flat-broke. Good luck gambling not having enough insurance.