A few days ago, I came across an article in a leading English daily that focused on saving money for child-free couples. It highlighted how a child-free working couple can save more, invest their earnings, and actually lead a better life by securing financial freedom.
Definitely.
However, as I mulled over the point, I wondered—what was the article really promoting? Saving money by consciously going “child-free”?
Well… it was!
I first came across the concept of DINK in 2018 during my journalism days. DINK is an acronym for “Double Income, No Kids”—especially for couples who have consciously chosen to remain child-free. Over the past few years, the concept has gained global popularity, with Japan leading the trend in Asia, followed by China. India isn’t far behind, with more than 22% of young urban couples opting for the DINK lifestyle. Reports suggest that this trend in India will grow by 30% annually in the near future.
It’s the new-age philosophy,
you’ll find it everywhere:
- Dating bios
- Therapist couches
- Dinner-table rants
“I don’t want school fees, karate classes, and tantrums.”
“Weekends are for Netflix, not nursery rhymes.”
“I want peace, not responsibility.”
The DINK lifestyle offers many benefits—from focusing on personal growth to career development to chasing passions. Couples have the luxury of designing their lives on their own terms. And that can be pretty tempting (at least for someone like me!).
I personally know couples who have consciously chosen this path and are leading fulfilling lives. One couple in their mid-50s is close to fulfilling their dream of visiting every country in the world—they’ve already covered 85! Another couple became celebrity travel influencers and even wrote books on how they turned their dream into reality.
Some DINK couples also cite concerns about the world they would bring a child into—political instability, environmental challenges, and social issues like rising crimes against children.
Now, let’s look at the other side. Raising kids today requires money, time, and often peace of mind. Children do change your lifestyle, sometimes considerably. But is it really the kids who feel like a burden, or is it the lack of planning that makes it seem so?
This is where I want to raise a point. Of course, financial freedom is vital, and as a former finance journalist, I cannot stress this enough. But does becoming “financially free” demand that one consciously go the DINK way? A lack of desire for parenthood is completely understandable. But viewing kids as “money badly spent”—is that really something we should celebrate?
What if the real burden isn’t children, but poor planning?
Responsibilities feel like liabilities only when they aren’t prepared for. That’s when caring for your child feels like sacrifice, caring for your parents feels like forced duty, and even caring for yourself feels like a task.
We don’t run from kids. We run from chaos—from the time, energy, and money we didn’t plan to give.
But what if you had a plan?
One that prepared for school fees, vacations, and downtime.
One that let you raise a family without giving up your life?
Then maybe, the same child that once looked like a cost would start to feel like the biggest blessing.
This isn’t a post about having kids—that choice is entirely yours.
But here’s what I want to say:
With the right financial planning, every obligation can turn into a blessing.
Without a financial plan, every life event feels like a forced commitment—including parenthood. And let’s be honest, if you are poor at managing your finances, even going the DINK way won’t help much.
Nothing kills joy faster than a life you’re just surviving, instead of living. People who see kids only as a financial obligation, and believe that not having them will solve all their problems, need to think again—and develop better money management skills.
You can run away from one obligation, but not from all. Eventually, you must face them head-on—with proper planning, especially financial.
By Sampurna Majumdar
Sampurna Majumder is a communications professional born and raised in Kolkata. Fascinated by creativity from a young age, she has a deep love for music, literature, and world cinema. An avid reader and traveler, she holds a Master’s degree in Literature from the University of Delhi.
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