Every once in a while, a remarkably consistent theme will materialize as if by magic.

In my inbox, almost as if the readers and the listeners who have the generosity of spirit

to write me an email are connected along the same telepathic frequency.

Now typically we address money with Katie listener questions in our rich girl roundup segment.

The topic that's emerged recently felt like it deserved a much deeper dive.

Quote, aspiring rich girl here,

My family does pretty well earning, investing, and spending in a tax-efficient manner.

We have a few different income streams, we have totally average housing and cars,

and we even have a friend living with us who helps out with babysitting and chores.

She writes,

As an aside, a live-in friend who functions like a third co-parent,

I think we're on to something here.

However, she continues,

Child Care is obliterating our normally well-patted finances, energy, and time.

Two fantastic kids in part-time daycare three days a week

is draining $24,000 per year from our joint income of $115,000.

Ah, a tale has all this time in the United States,

with, I would note, the historical exception of World War Two,

headline reads,

Responsible couple who did everything right still struggles with spending 21% of their

pretext income on something every other rich nation recognizes is a public good.

Then she says, quote,

...