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See Also
See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 28 Fotos
DINKs on social media
- Thanks to TikTok, the term has taken off as DINK creators are posting videos about the perks of their lifestyle. The DINK hashtag has 247.1 million views on TikTok alone.
© Shutterstock
1 / 28 Fotos
What is DINK?
- DINK is when two people in a household are earning income, and they have no children who depend on them to support them.
© Shutterstock
2 / 28 Fotos
Expenses spent on other things
- This means DINK couples can put more money toward financial goals like savings and spend more on non-essential expenses and luxuries.
© Shutterstock
3 / 28 Fotos
When children are in the picture
- Costs associated with raising one or more children include food, clothing, long-term education, and more.
© Shutterstock
4 / 28 Fotos
Costs of raising children
- On average, American parents spend around US$237,482 to raise a child up to the age of 18.
© Shutterstock
5 / 28 Fotos
Spend and save on them
- Without children, DINK couples can save or spend money that their counterparts are spending on raising children.
© Shutterstock
6 / 28 Fotos
DINK couples aren't necessarily rich
- However, DINK couples aren't necessarily rich by today's standards. They're just fully employed and childfree.
© Shutterstock
7 / 28 Fotos
Living space looks different
- A household without children would require less living space, which can also cut costs.
© Shutterstock
8 / 28 Fotos
A space just for adults
- In other words, DINK couples wouldn't need to look for housing that includes bedrooms or playrooms for children.
© Shutterstock
9 / 28 Fotos
They can opt for smaller places
- That could allow them to rent or purchase less expensive homes with smaller spaces.
© Shutterstock
10 / 28 Fotos
Sharing goods and services
- Compared to singles, they also save money by sharing goods and services. For example, DINKs will share bills and groceries, and they typically share hotel rooms during their vacations.
© Shutterstock
11 / 28 Fotos
DINKs invest more
- With extra money, DINKs can often invest more than their counterparts with children or those who are single.
© Shutterstock
12 / 28 Fotos
Investments
- The money that might have been spent on children could be put into stocks, bonds, or other investment vehicles.
© Shutterstock
13 / 28 Fotos
Increase earnings
- Investing even a few thousand dollars per year can potentially increase earnings even more.
© Shutterstock
14 / 28 Fotos
Types of DINKs
- There are several situations that can be considered dual-income, no kids. They include couples who choose not to have kids, or even empty nesters.
© Shutterstock
15 / 28 Fotos
Couples who choose not to have kids
- For a variety of reasons, some couples choose not to have children. This makes them a DINK couple.
© Shutterstock
16 / 28 Fotos
Couples who choose not to have kids
- Many simply don't want a lifestyle with children, while others have medical or financial reasons.
© Shutterstock
17 / 28 Fotos
Couples who can't have children
- Couples who want children but can't have children, including same-sex couples or couples struggling with infertility.
© Shutterstock
18 / 28 Fotos
Couples who can't have children
- These couples often face difficult choices, as they may not be able to afford (or want) to pursue alternatives such as adoption, surrogacy, or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
© Shutterstock
19 / 28 Fotos
New couples
- New couples living together may have children one day, but until then they can enjoy a DINK lifestyle.
© Shutterstock
20 / 28 Fotos
New couples
- At this stage in their lives, they may be saving for major purchase milestones like buying a home or car.
© Shutterstock
21 / 28 Fotos
New couples
- Some may also be saving money to prepare for the cost of raising children.
© Shutterstock
22 / 28 Fotos
Empty nesters
- After the children are grown and moved out, couples may become part of the DINK demographic again.
© Shutterstock
23 / 28 Fotos
Empty nesters
- These couples may find they have extra money in their budget, which they once spent on kids. Plus, they might gain funds by downsizing their home.
© Shutterstock
24 / 28 Fotos
Empty nesters
- Empty nesters often change their financial focus from supporting their children to saving more for retirement.
© Shutterstock
25 / 28 Fotos
Other types of DINK households
- If two adult household members are earning an income, and they have no children, it would be considered a DINK situation. According to the US Census Bureau definition, a household is generally considered a situation in which members share living quarters, whether they're related or not.
© Shutterstock
26 / 28 Fotos
Other types of DINK households
- Therefore, roommates living together or an adult child living with a parent would likely be considered DINK households too. Sources: (Forbes) (CNBC) (Business Insider) (Investopedia)
© Shutterstock
27 / 28 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 28 Fotos
DINKs on social media
- Thanks to TikTok, the term has taken off as DINK creators are posting videos about the perks of their lifestyle. The DINK hashtag has 247.1 million views on TikTok alone.
© Shutterstock
1 / 28 Fotos
What is DINK?
- DINK is when two people in a household are earning income, and they have no children who depend on them to support them.
© Shutterstock
2 / 28 Fotos
Expenses spent on other things
- This means DINK couples can put more money toward financial goals like savings and spend more on non-essential expenses and luxuries.
© Shutterstock
3 / 28 Fotos
When children are in the picture
- Costs associated with raising one or more children include food, clothing, long-term education, and more.
© Shutterstock
4 / 28 Fotos
Costs of raising children
- On average, American parents spend around US$237,482 to raise a child up to the age of 18.
© Shutterstock
5 / 28 Fotos
Spend and save on them
- Without children, DINK couples can save or spend money that their counterparts are spending on raising children.
© Shutterstock
6 / 28 Fotos
DINK couples aren't necessarily rich
- However, DINK couples aren't necessarily rich by today's standards. They're just fully employed and childfree.
© Shutterstock
7 / 28 Fotos
Living space looks different
- A household without children would require less living space, which can also cut costs.
© Shutterstock
8 / 28 Fotos
A space just for adults
- In other words, DINK couples wouldn't need to look for housing that includes bedrooms or playrooms for children.
© Shutterstock
9 / 28 Fotos
They can opt for smaller places
- That could allow them to rent or purchase less expensive homes with smaller spaces.
© Shutterstock
10 / 28 Fotos
Sharing goods and services
- Compared to singles, they also save money by sharing goods and services. For example, DINKs will share bills and groceries, and they typically share hotel rooms during their vacations.
© Shutterstock
11 / 28 Fotos
DINKs invest more
- With extra money, DINKs can often invest more than their counterparts with children or those who are single.
© Shutterstock
12 / 28 Fotos
Investments
- The money that might have been spent on children could be put into stocks, bonds, or other investment vehicles.
© Shutterstock
13 / 28 Fotos
Increase earnings
- Investing even a few thousand dollars per year can potentially increase earnings even more.
© Shutterstock
14 / 28 Fotos
Types of DINKs
- There are several situations that can be considered dual-income, no kids. They include couples who choose not to have kids, or even empty nesters.
© Shutterstock
15 / 28 Fotos
Couples who choose not to have kids
- For a variety of reasons, some couples choose not to have children. This makes them a DINK couple.
© Shutterstock
16 / 28 Fotos
Couples who choose not to have kids
- Many simply don't want a lifestyle with children, while others have medical or financial reasons.
© Shutterstock
17 / 28 Fotos
Couples who can't have children
- Couples who want children but can't have children, including same-sex couples or couples struggling with infertility.
© Shutterstock
18 / 28 Fotos
Couples who can't have children
- These couples often face difficult choices, as they may not be able to afford (or want) to pursue alternatives such as adoption, surrogacy, or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
© Shutterstock
19 / 28 Fotos
New couples
- New couples living together may have children one day, but until then they can enjoy a DINK lifestyle.
© Shutterstock
20 / 28 Fotos
New couples
- At this stage in their lives, they may be saving for major purchase milestones like buying a home or car.
© Shutterstock
21 / 28 Fotos
New couples
- Some may also be saving money to prepare for the cost of raising children.
© Shutterstock
22 / 28 Fotos
Empty nesters
- After the children are grown and moved out, couples may become part of the DINK demographic again.
© Shutterstock
23 / 28 Fotos
Empty nesters
- These couples may find they have extra money in their budget, which they once spent on kids. Plus, they might gain funds by downsizing their home.
© Shutterstock
24 / 28 Fotos
Empty nesters
- Empty nesters often change their financial focus from supporting their children to saving more for retirement.
© Shutterstock
25 / 28 Fotos
Other types of DINK households
- If two adult household members are earning an income, and they have no children, it would be considered a DINK situation. According to the US Census Bureau definition, a household is generally considered a situation in which members share living quarters, whether they're related or not.
© Shutterstock
26 / 28 Fotos
Other types of DINK households
- Therefore, roommates living together or an adult child living with a parent would likely be considered DINK households too. Sources: (Forbes) (CNBC) (Business Insider) (Investopedia)
© Shutterstock
27 / 28 Fotos
What it means to be a DINK couple and why more are choosing this path
Learn all about the dual income, no kids lifestyle!
© Shutterstock
Bringing a child into the world is a big decision. For many couples, the choice to become parents is a deeply personal one, influenced by a number of factors, from societal expectations to personal desires and financial circumstances. With the rise in couples opting not to have children, you might have seen the term DINK being thrown around on social media or on online forums. Dual income, no kids (DINK) is a slang term for a household in which there are two people earning incomes and no children.
But what does it really mean to be a DINK couple? Click on to find out.
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