More couples are choosing a ‘dual income, no kids’ lifestyle. Here’s how that changes their finances
by cnbc_official
More couples are choosing a ‘dual income, no kids’ lifestyle. Here’s how that changes their finances
by cnbc_official
6 comments
Almost half, 43%, of unmarried American adults want to [get married](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/17/gen-z-millennial-couples-say-marriage-too-expensive-in-this-economy.html) in the future, according to a 2022 Harris Poll [survey](https://theharrispoll.com/briefs/birth-rates/). But only 28% said they want to [have a child](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/05/money-rules-for-childfree-people-according-to-a-cfp.html).
This trend has contributed to the growth of a household configuration popularly referred to as DINKs: “dual income, no kids.”
“This idea and household configuration of dual-income partners living alone without children is on the rise,” according to Misty L. Heggeness, an associate research scientist at the University of Kansas’ Institute for Policy and Social Research. “In 2022, it was around 43% of households, and that’s about a 7% increase from a decade previously.”
Almost half, 46%, of adults in the Harris Poll survey who do not have children and do not want to have a child in the future pointed to their personal financial situation as a reason, while 33% noted housing prices as a factor.
“When we advise clients about having children, we honestly don’t even give them the full real details and the real numbers,” said Shannon McLay, founder of The Financial Gym. “It’s one of those things if you see the math of it all, it might make you decide to not have children.”
Full video: [https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/21/what-dink-dual-income-no-kids-trend-means-for-your-money.html](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/21/what-dink-dual-income-no-kids-trend-means-for-your-money.html)
You do you. It’s how you behave like an adult. What works for some may not work for others.
I like the part where they say that if you look at the numbers than having kids is crazy. It’s kind of sad that we live in a society where the government tries to force people to have children (lack of abortion rights) while also making them completely destitute if they do.
More couples can’t afford to have children.
We’re DINK – not married yet but live together.
We’re comfortable and make good salaries in a Low COL area, but I still don’t really feel “well off”.
Still conscious of the money being spent. Not buying brand new furniture (which we could probably use). Not taking a ton of trips unless it lines up with either of us taking a work trip so we can cut down on costs.
I don’t know. We’re way better off than a ton of people I’m sure but it FEELS like we should be more comfortable than we are.
As Homer says, why have three kids and no money when we can have no kids and three money?