For me, I think the balance would fall in favour of a larger family. I didn't grow up with as much as some other kids and while at times it bothered me that my clothes weren't super cool and I didn't have a brand name schoolbag, I think it shaped my character...we all want our children to be cool and liked, but I learned some valuable lessons through times of being uncool (and of course make up for it by being completely totally cool now).