Are you actually suggesting that having unplanned kids out of wedlock before you are ready is a good idea? Because otherwise, I don't see the absurdity. It's unquestionably expensive and if you don't want it, it does not have value that you would seek out, so yes, we can say it's a huge money sink.
> if you don't want it, it does not have value that you would seek out
Many people are quite happy with their unplanned children, so it is difficult to make this value judgment. It is also extremely difficult to measure as I suspect most of those who regret unplanned children are unwilling to admit it.
You are considering cost versus benefit without any reasonable estimation of benefit.
I am considering the individual's value estimation at the time the decision is being made. I don't feel like the fact that they might revise their values later really matters for something like this.
When estimating the future costs and benefits of a decision why would you use the persons present values and not their future values? It seems silly to consider how much present day me would enjoy something in the future instead of how much future me would enjoy it when it will clearly be future me, not present me enjoying it.
Without immigration and unplanned pregnancies, we'd be well below replacement rate. Maybe it isn't good for your individual finances, but it'd be disastrous on a societal level.
