childless couples and house/money/life

moneyinmypocket

I know quite a few couples in there 30s who dont want kids or a fancy wedding - they have all bought houses, all go on holidays abroad and all go out for meals, days out, social events.

I think in coming years/decades this section may become more wide spread.

Graham_Devon

It's very much needed, we don't need to add to the population.

However, I have to say, it's incredibly sad. No money, no posessions, no freedom can bring to you the joy of watching your offspring growing, learning and doing you damn proud.

atush

Children are darned expensive.

When i told my teens how much it costs to raise one to age 18, they all said they weren't having any. I said "before i had you, I used to buy shoes' lol.

This revelation of theirs was after i explained they had to pay tax on what they earned lol. And they thought about it and said, "i want to spend all my money on me". I dropped hints about other spending they should do (incl our silver wedding anniversay coming up in a few yrs) but it fell on deaf ears ;-)

markharding557

I did not think about kids or anything in my late teens either but about ten years later

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[Deleted User]

this fad for not having kids is exactly that,its a response to this idiotic idea that property is more important than flesh,and this stupid idea that kids cost an arm and 2 legs to raise,the truth is they cost what you choose to spend,why on earth do some parents for example pay £60 for a pair of shoes that wont fit the kid in 3 months time?or £20 for a t shirt when a £3 one from asda will do the job?

moneyinmypocket

It's not just about cost of raising kids it's fact that we could have decades of no growth and massive changes as we know it to life, many couples are saying to hell with it - the old 2.4 model is coming to an end I think for the younger thinking generation

purplecow

I certainly know people that fit into this category and I also think some people are choosing to have fewer kids than they would otherwise because of the economy. Great if you are absolutely sure about your life choices, but sad if you get to old age and regret not doing something. Having said that, people who don't want kids must find it very patronising when others assume that they will change their mind because everyone must want children.

wymondham

Choosing not to have kids is fine, but the only issue is life is not a rehersal as they say, and if you suddenly decide in later life you do did want kids then it may have slipped you by...

What implications are there for the future if most parents are older parents due to this.... is it possible that far fewer kids in the future will know/have grandparents ... the family support network is reduced..?

wymondham

moneyinmypocket wrote: »

I know quite a few couples in there 30s who dont want kids or a fancy wedding - they have all bought houses, all go on holidays abroad and all go out for meals, days out, social events.

I think in coming years/decades this section may become more wide spread.

This is fine, but I hope they are also saving for their old age as they have chosen not to have a generation below them to help......

That old saying 'be kind to your kids as they choose your nursing home' comes into play .... who chooses now? ;-)

vivatifosi

I don't have kids, but that has nothing whatsoever to do with house prices! People sometime choose not to have children. They always have although the numbers are growing.

Speaking to people I know who are younger than me and who have chosen not to have kids, again they haven't done it to buy a house either. There are a whole raft of reasons why not. Some can't have kids, some did not feel they were with the person they wanted to have kids with (for example someone they loved, but drank too much), some are worried about the state of the world they'd have to bring kids into, some have put it off then found they can't have them because their fertility has diminished.... People don't fit into neat boxes and we all have our own reasons. My reasons and those of those I know are more social/health based rather than economic.

Carl31

Whether you choose kids or not, i think making material items a priority in life is pretty sad, putting owning 'items' before 'living' is just plain odd.

Id hate to have got to 50 or 60 and all i had done was worked and bought things

Theres was to much emphasis on house ownership in this country, its borderline ridiculous in fact