What this article covers
DINK — dual income, no kids — is one of the fastest-growing lifestyle categories in America, and it comes with a financial profile unlike any other household type. Two incomes, no childcare costs, and no college savings obligations mean DINK couples often accumulate wealth faster and spend it more freely than comparable couples raising children. But the lifestyle also comes with financial planning considerations that aren’t always obvious: retirement without the informal safety net of adult children, complex estate planning decisions, and long-term care needs with no family caregivers to rely on. This article covers what the DINK lifestyle actually is, why more couples are choosing it, the financial advantages and drawbacks worth understanding — and what it means for your financial plan.
You’ve seen them on Instagram. You know, those carefree couples who are always jet-setting from one exotic destination to the next. Like the guy and gal you met at work – yeah, the perpetually well-dressed ones. Where did they go recently? The Caribbean again? Or was it Paris?
You can’t keep up. But all you know for sure is that they’re taking full advantage of their DINK lifestyle. That’s right, dual income, no kids. Cash-rich and lacking the responsibilities that come from having children, these couples have a life that many people crave. But is it really as good as it sounds? Or are there downsides, too?
And, moreover, what’s the DINK lifestyle all about anyway? What are the benefits and drawbacks? Let’s find out. Read on for answers.
Key Takeaways
DINK couples — dual income, no kids — are a rapidly growing demographic as more couples choose childfree lives for financial, practical, and personal reasons.
A 2021 Pew Research survey found that 44% of non-parents aged 18–49 are unlikely to have children, while the percentage of adults living in child-free households has risen steadily for decades. The DINK lifestyle isn’t always a choice — fertility challenges, age, and economic uncertainty all play a role — but for the growing number of couples who do choose it, the financial and lifestyle implications are significant.
The financial upside of the DINK lifestyle is substantial — the average cost of raising a child to age 17 exceeds $233,000, and that’s before college.
DINK couples redirect that spending toward savings, investments, travel, and career growth — and with two incomes and no childcare costs, they’re often positioned to build wealth faster than comparable couples with children. The financial freedom extends beyond money: more time for career advancement, the flexibility to relocate for better opportunities, and a stronger ability to take on investment risk when you’re not funding a college education.
The DINK lifestyle comes with unique financial planning considerations — including retirement without the informal support of adult children, estate planning complexity, and long-term care needs.
DINK couples who accumulate significant wealth without children face a different set of financial planning challenges than families: who inherits their estate, who manages their affairs if both partners become incapacitated, and how they’ll fund long-term care without relying on family caregivers. Working with a financial advisor who specializes in childfree couples helps ensure the financial advantages of the DINK lifestyle are backed by a plan that accounts for its unique risks.
What Is the DINK Lifestyle?
Short for “dual income, no kids,” DINK is the term given to households where both partners in the relationship earn an income, but neither has any children.
It runs in slight contrast to the DEWK lifestyle, which stands for “dually employed with kids.” Couples in the latter category may have a similar net worth, but the responsibility of having a family impacts how they spend it.
It’s for these reasons that marketers of luxury products and services devote significant chunks of their budget to targeting so-called DINKs.
The Rise of the DINK Lifestyle: Why More Couples Are Choosing to Stay Childfree
Becoming a “dual income no kids” married or cohabiting couple is increasingly popular. For example, a recent survey from Pew Research found that 44% of non-parents aged 18 to 49 are unlikely to have kids these days and that 74% of parents in the same age range are unlikely to have any more.
Additionally, according to the US Census Bureau, the percentage of adults living without children rose from 52.5% to 71.3% between 1967 and 2016.
In the next section, we’ll look at some benefits of the DINK lifestyle that help explain these figures. But first, it’s worth noting that it isn’t always a choice. Whereas many couples enter it actively, others do so through circumstance. They might have fertility issues, for example, or they could be older, retired, and have grown-up children who have left the family home.
Furthermore, while the stereotype of child-free DINKs (i.e., those who choose the lifestyle – versus childless, who don’t) involves a young, ambitious couple prioritizing their career/personal freedom, many partners pick the lifestyle for practical reasons or because of their concern around the future.
Indeed, the rate of conception has been known to crash in the face of economic uncertainty. And there’s plenty of that in today’s world! If a couple’s combined income still seems insufficient to have a child, then it can seem like the wrong way forward.
The Main Benefits of the DINK Lifestyle
Specific circumstances aside, most DINKs experience advantages that both DEWKs and singletons miss out on. Here are 3 compelling incentives that help explain why more and more couples are adopting this lifestyle:
1. More Time for Career, Experiences, and Each Other
Because raising children involves such a huge investment of time and energy, DINK couples generally have much more free time. There are no PTA meetings to attend or extracurricular activities to take someone to (and from)! When they aren’t working, they can do whatever they like.
That’s a boon for anyone seeking some well-deserved R&R. Yet it’s also a major benefit if you have big dreams and ambitions. For example, someone who’s career-focused could spend longer in the office, doing whatever it takes to get a promotion.
Of course, it also means DINK couples have more time for each other. They can go on dates without having to pay a babysitter, take spontaneous trips on weekends, and give their partner their undivided attention around the dinner table. Ultimately, this extra quality time can help forge a stronger relationship.
2. More Money to Save, Invest, and Spend as You Choose
An unmarried or married couple may be financially motivated to consider the DINK lifestyle, too. Why? Because there’d be more money to go around! According to USDA, for instance, the average cost of raising a child from birth to age 17 is over $233,000. Now imagine raising a few of them…
With no childcare to worry about, DINK couples can use that cash however they see fit. From clothes, jewelry, and travel to investing in property, stocks, and bonds, financial planning without kids means DINKs are able to enjoy a degree of material success that other spouses/couples could never afford – especially if they’re both in high-paying positions.
3. The Freedom to Move, Relocate, or Travel Without Complication
Moving from one home to another is harder to justify when you enter parenthood. They might be at school and about to sit their exams, for example. Or maybe they have a tight-knit group of friends that you’re reluctant to take them away from. In either case, it can feel unfair, selfish, and/or impractical to go somewhere new.
DINKs don’t have to worry about this. They’re free to come and go! Assuming both partners are happy, they can take that job on the other side of the country, pursue their dreams of living in Europe or sell everything they own and travel the world. It goes without saying that parents can have these adventures, too. But the decision (and process) is unquestionably easier without children to take into account.
The Cons of the DINK Lifestyle
Despite having more time, money, and mobility to enjoy, the decision to enter the DINK lifestyle won’t be for everyone.
Indeed, many people see childbearing as a unique, positive life experience and a natural part of adulthood. Not everyone is willing to pass it up. And, while prioritizing personal freedom and career ambitions can feel like the right call now, some might worry about regretting the decision later in life- when it’s too late.
There are practical issues to consider, too. For instance, did you know that parents can receive a tax credit of up to $2,000 for each child younger than 17? That’s a sizeable chunk of their annual tax bill that DINKs forgo.
Is the DINK Lifestyle Right for You?
More and more couples are experimenting with the DINK lifestyle. And can you blame them? Whether you’re an exhausted parent of young children or someone considering their future, it’s hard not to swoon at the benefits involved.
Ultimately, though, there’s no right or wrong. With compelling pros and cons on either side, it’s up to each couple to decide if it’s the right way forward.
About the Author
Danny Newman is a nationally syndicated freelance writer with a focus on travel. MSN feed and Associated Press bylines. Danny is a digital nomad from the UK who’s been traveling full-time since 2018. Learn More About Danny.
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