Should You Have a Third Child? How to Think Through the Decision

Should You Have a Third Child? How to Think Through the Decision

From Marriage Kids and Money: Personal Finance for Families by Andy Hill

April 8, 2026 · 35 min

About this episode

This episode explores the decision of having a third child and strategies for avoiding student loan debt for college.

Should you have a third child? And how can you help your kids graduate college debt-free? In this episode, we explore one of life’s most personal decisions: whether to grow your family. We walk through a thoughtful 7-step framework to help you and your partner decide if a third child is right for you—covering emotional readiness, relationship strength, finances, and the value of time. Then, we’re joined by educator and author Shelley Branine to talk about how families can avoid student loan debt. We dive into why college costs have skyrocketed and how strategies like dual enrollment can help students earn college credits in high school—often at little to no cost. If you’re thinking about expanding your family or planning for your child’s education, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and practical next steps. Resources and Links 📚 📖My new book, "Own Your Time" https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/ownyourtimeamazon 📞Voicemail for Questions: Leave a voicemail at ⁠marriagekidsmoney.com/voicemail⁠ to have your question answered on the show! 💻 Sponsors and Additional Resources ⁠⁠https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/resources⁠⁠ 👉Connect with me on social media: LinkedIn…

People in this episode

Host: Andy Hill

Guest: Shelley Branine

Topics covered

  • family planning
  • education financing
  • debt-free college
  • personal finance
  • parenting decisions

Keywords

  • third child
  • college debt
  • family growth
  • financial planning
  • student loans
  • dual enrollment
  • education costs

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Own Your Time

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