This is very true... Especially for men, they seem to feel that their status is dictated by their material belongings, as well as their income.

I think the perfect time is whenever it happens - because that is when you get your act together and find that you can cope, money does stretch, and the change of lifestyle is well worth the effort.  (Of course this is providing you are in a good relationship with someone you plan to spend the rest of your life with).

Very nice, short sweet, and pertinent advice!

What's the use of waiting until you have everything "perfect" to introduce the most life-altering factor in your life?!  It's like waiting until you get done building this huge house of cards before rolling a bowling ball across the table!

The right time has less to do with money and more to do with the strength of your relationship with your spouse and your flexibility! 

My wife and mine philospohy is " No plans, no regrest " and so far so good ! 

Having kids is the greatest challenge of any marriage (at least from what I've seen so far) because you will be going through a boot camp that could make a Marine cry, be pushed to the brink of exhaustion, find out things about yourself, your spouse and everybody else you know what you never wanted to know ... and you wouldn't change a thing!

I've heard people say "I want to do my traveling before we have kids." which is actually sad if you think about it. If they are "successful" in this then that means their kid(s) will not learn the fun of traveling, seeing new places, meeting new people and being exposed to new cultures!  What a shame! You may have to stop or slow your traveling for a while but how much richer

I've heard tales of people on their death-bed wishing they had children, or they spent more time with their children. 
I've never heard anybody say they wish they spent more time in the office, or that they moved into such-and-such town.

Hold your nose, close your eyes, open your heart and mind and take the plunge!

This tip describes my situation exactly.  Knowing when the right time to have a child was a huge issue for me. My wife and I had the "no right time" discussion as well.  But the end point is right on - kids fit into your life (and morph it too) in ways that you might not have imagined, but that are pretty cool.

I think you are right Angus, but i think it is also sensible to give some thought to whether they will fit in better in the future or right now. For example if you are starting a new business or about to go travelling round the world - otherwise having children may not fit well at all and its unfair on them as much as it is on yourslef.