The boomers fucked the economy. Their mentality is “FUCK YOU! I GOT MINE!”
Baby: costs thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars over a minimum of 18 years
Monitor: shows memes and games, costs a few hundred dollars for a good one, one time purchase
Obviously the child is the stupid financial decision
It depends on where you live. Believe it or not, kids still care for their elderly parents in some nations.
I think the key to this scheme working, however, is that you raise your children in such a selfless way that they would want to take care of you when you have nothing more to offer them. Which is to say, the only way this method works is if it’s not a “method” at all, just love.
Edit: inb4 honor culture. In the places you likely refer to, uncared-for elderly are considered a great dishonor. But also in these places, differences in social infrastructure and the parameters of personal finance significantly augment the decision. In short, it’s still a net cost of time and resources to raise a child, a balance that can only be paid by love.
I’m sure my daughter would want to. The problem is it’s completely unrealistic in the US. When I’m too old to care for myself, I’m going to insist on a nursing home. Hell, the LAN parties are going to be great by then.