Posted on 09/25/2024 5:12:05 PM PDT by Morgana
The stigma of the “childless cat lady” persists, but these days, more young adults are embracing that label and opting out of parenthood — and benefitting, at least monetarily.
Nearly a quarter, or 23%, of millennials and Generation Zers without children do not plan on having children, primarily due to financial reasons, according to a recent consumer spending and saving index by MassMutual.
A preference for financial freedom and the inability to afford children are equally cited by 43% of younger generations, MassMutual found. The survey polled 1,000 adults in July.
To be sure, money is a major reason some young adults are choosing not to have kids.
But also, over decades, attitudes about marriage and parenthood have changed.
Since the 1970s, the overall share of married adults has declined and fewer couples are having children, according to a 2023 report from Pew Research Center. Last year, the U.S. fertility rate reached a historic low.
Now, adults without children, both married and unmarried, are better off than than their peers with kids, in terms of median wealth and retirement savings, a separate Pew Research Center study found in May.
The majority of adults without children said not having kids has made it easier for them to afford the things they want and be successful in their job or career, Pew also found.
Although there is a financial benefit, “it’s not like you are child-free and checks fall out of the sky,” said Jay Zigmont, author of “The Childfree Guide to Life and Money.”
In many cases, being a SINK (single income, no kids), DINK (dual income, no kids) or DINKY (dual income, no kids yet) does come with certain financial planning considerations that differ from the standard strategy.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...
14. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12
One could ask, is such a thing possible? Might make for an interesting discussion.
The hazard is, if there were a Dmeocratic present, someone would have to die.
YouTube is full of “happy” childless, manless women in bed filming themselves so full of joy you can almost understand them over their tears
So many are leftist creeps, so them dying alone is probably for the best.
That's the future.
Tha entire developed world is the same. Don’t chu no that?
____________________________
Not so, Putin believes promoting childlessness should be banned. Cat ladies beware.
Look around and you can see why having children that this world wouldn’t destroy would be difficult. I homeschooled my children and made sure they were in church way back in the 80s and 90s because I knew how bad society was. Now it’s even worse. To not have kids because it costs too much is about the fact that their finances aren’t as blessed as we were. Most can’t afford a house. Sure, there are some that are screwed up but for the most part many are just trying to survive.
If you can’t feed ‘em
Don’t breed ‘em
Well said.
The benefits of parenthood are priceless.
Yeah, but what about all the cat food?
I think you are right but I also am astonished at the people who are not only anti-child but anti-spouse.
Today I found myself in a sticky wicket and my husband just took care of it.
When I told him he was the best he answered that I had done the same for him more then once.
How do people go on without someone to help support them and pick them up when they stumble?
How is money or power or anything more important than having people in your life that you love and can count on?
The genes were never ours. We're here from ashes to ashes and will leave these corporal beings behind.
Blessed are those who have family who would support them. For others, well as they say, "you can pick your friends but you can't pick your family."
There are a lot of people who adamantly refuse to inflict upon others what was inflicted upon them.
Unfortunately, some parents believe that the other way and devalue their children completely.
It would be a very empty and lonely feeling to be in ill health and an advanced age and not have any children, IMO. Even in good health I think the ‘empty and lonely’ part would still be there.
To not have kids because it costs too much is about the fact that their finances aren’t as blessed as we were.
_____________________________________
Perhaps because of the environment in which I was raised, I can truthfully proclaim that loving parents are more important to a child growing up than all the money in the world. Materialism is not the answer. Motivation and dreams are what’s lacking in today’s generation,
I think the Chinese call the childless “empty vessels”.
People today choose not to be able to afford a house. They get into debt for cars or Doordash. They want to live in high cost areas because there is more to do. They want jobs that are lower paying because “my mental health”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.