Posted on 03/10/2020 9:48:28 AM PDT by C19fan
Middle class Americans are opting not to marry because until they're financially ready, according to new research that shows people value having a lot of money and a career they enjoy more than a legal union.
Student loans and other debts get in the way of marriage which is nowadays regarded as a 'capstone achievement' that comes once an individual has set up for a stable future, researchers say.
While 60 percent of Americans said they had been married in 2002 that dropped to 50 percent in 2017.
In that same 15-year period the cohabiting figures rose from 54 percent to 59 percent, according to Pew Research.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
“My wife’s kid making days are over; I sometimes wonder if my daughter will even get the chance”
This got really creepy really quickly.
What nonsense, getting married is not expensive, unless of course you have to have a $70,000 wedding and reception party which is stupid...
Just some filing fees with the county, and that’s it in terms of direct cost.
What hooey.
People need to live the life they can afford.
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This is a simple statement that will change lives.
I told my son and daughter in law, we aren’t high rollers and we aren’t going to pretend to be for some fairy tale.
When start out in your first act married in a fantasy world?
Married lose exemptions with their combined incomes. There is a significant tax on marriage.
Marriage is cheap. It’s the inevitable divorce that’s unaffordable.
I talked my wife into a small Vegas wedding, but she nixed the Elvis Preacher part of my plan.
Did you try flying Elvi? ;-)
My grandparents managed to do it for the cost of the license and proper attire. Church ceremony followed by an outdoor reception by a lake. Family and friends provided most of the food. Some aunt provided flowers and basic decorations. Dress was a reasonably priced choice. Photos show that it was a great party. Of course, back then such events were more about recognizing and celebrating a union and less about blowing 50 grand on a girl’s “special day”.
Marriages have legal consequences, cohabitation doesn’t (at least in most states) . Debt has nothing to do with them not getting married. Actually being married usually means debt is handled more easily. Unless of course both parties in the marriage spend recklessly.
All marriages or just heterosexual marriages?
Marriage has been made into a meaningless a mockery of God by homosexual marriage.
It does not mean anything to what is right and expected before God anymore because gay marriage.
Marriage is simply been rejected because God and His ways are being rejected.
Love of self has become the number one top priority across the land.
“Guys are running on one third the testosterone I’ve got”
Not just that, young men have been emasculated and hipsterized to the point they don’t have the basic male knowledge we picked up at age 10 or younger.
My BIL had to teach his new hipster SIL how to change the furnace filter, check oil in the car, air up tires. He is 26 and just bought his first car and never cut grass before until he and his new wife bought a condo. His parents hired everything done around their home.
“But if you just want to get married, you can do it for almost no money at all.”
Exactly. There’s a huge cohort of self absorbed young people who are incapable of love and mutual commitment beyond their cellphones. Wife and I got married at 20 and 19 respectively. Couldn’t afford spats for a flea. Finally got a $50 car. 59 years later very comfortable and going strong. Did it the old fashioned way...worked, sacrificed, suffered, persevered and prevailed. Call me old school.
I had to pay for my own wedding because my wife had already been married once for a short time and daddy wasn’t paying for a second wedding. Cost me all of $1200.00 and we had it on the small lake I lived on. Took an old awning that had been on the front of a Blockbuster video store, put it up on poles and filled it with white balloons to hide blockbuster which would show with the sun shining through. Rented tables and chairs to put under it. Fired up a grill for food, most of which I paid for. Bought a bunch of beer and some wine. Florida redneck wedding.
Meanwhile, a Justice of the peace is cheap but we knew a notary and in FL, they’re allowed to marry people. Power vested by the State of Florida. LOL
Guaranteed afternoon rain guaranteed a nice short celebration afterwards so that worked out well.
we spent 5K of our money for our wedding party and food for our guests ..
Young men really do have it rough today.
Women today are economically self sufficient and don’t need the husbands money to live. Most young women today make more than men. If a guy does not look like Brad Pitt and not in the same professional class women ignore them like the plaque.
The women live a in a hookup culture and live on travelling and bar hopping and having a good time.
Lot of young women in my wifes hobby (horses) and I see how they treat young men. Treat them as disposable trash to put it lightly.
“...finding a woman you hate and buying her a house.”
Your comment reminds me of the joke that the reason alimony costs so much is that it is worth it.
Huge debts have nothing to do with it. Most Americans just don’t want to get married, period.
Marriage gets in the way of social services eligibility. One low income qualifies for medical, food stamps, formula etc. Two incomes is too much to qualify.
Folks live together, have children outside of marriage, can’t afford to get married because government benefits are cut off.
Good observation.
And also the Earned Income Credit threshold.
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