‘Sleep, Travel To Financial Freedom’: Here’s How Life Looks Like For DINK (Double Income, No Kids) Couples

Some couples are rewriting the rules of married life. Instead of focusing on children, they are focusing on careers, travel, hobbies and simply enjoying life together. They have the freedom to make spontaneous decisions, invest in experiences and shape their days exactly how they like.

This lifestyle has a name: DINK—short form of “Double Income, No Kids”. The term actually originated in the 1980s. It made a comeback on TikTok, where couples showed off trips, shopping sprees, festivals and all the perks of living child-free. Now, a redditor wanted to know what life is really like for these couples. So, they posted a question, “Married people who are DINKS (Double Income, No Kids) how’s life?”

Married people who are DINKS (Double Income, No Kids)

how’s life? byu/Fit-Distribution677 inAskReddit

Many in the comments section shared how freeing this lifestyle feels. Let’s take a look at some of the responses.

Bigger Spaces, Bigger Thoughts

One user commented, “Got a new, bigger apartment, so that’s good. Hit with a tidal wave of existential dread, so that’s bad.”

Another shared, “Pretty good, we got 2 dogs and just bought an apartment in Spain where we’ll eventually move more permanently. For now, the money is in Northern Europe, so staying here because of jobs. Aiming to reach somewhat of what you would call financial freedom/independence in the next 5-10 years.”

Travel And Spontaneity

Travel is a major highlight for many DINK couples. One Redditor said, “We travel all the time. We make impulsive decisions to do whatever we want all the time. We’re happy and don’t feel like we’re missing out on much. Our lives feel complete.”

“Amazeballs LOL. Already travelled to 3 different places this year. 4th in Dec. Mind you, worked 6 days a week, invested+++ and only now slowing down to recoup what we missed. All in all, worth it,” said someone else.

Sleep: The Ultimate Luxury

For some, the little things really matter. A user explained, “Sleeping in is the most amazing part of being child-free. I operate so much better when I have sufficient sleep. Just happier.”

“Life is actually really, really great. We can sleep in whenever we want, go out, travel, work, and work out. Honestly, compared to our peers, we don’t have a care in the world,” another wrote.

Festivals, Fun And Freedom

Going to festivals, travelling, and taking quick trips are common for such couples. A person wrote, “I want kids less and less every year. We just got back from the Portola music festival and had such a blast. And it was great to have a few days to recover without having to do childcare.”

An individual shared, “This year we’re going to 3 concerts, across the country for a short holiday two weeks before going to Thailand for Christmas break, then getting married in Italy next year. I have no complaints.”

Financial Stability

Financial stability is another major perk, as a Redditor explained, “My wife and I are both in Tech, working at Microsoft. No kids, just a cat. Things are pretty solid… No debt, nice cars, big house, no financial worries. Any time we want to do something (within reason) we can. Any time we want to buy something (within reason) we can. We can experiment with hobbies without worry. Even relatively expensive ones. We don’t waste money, we invest a ton, but it’s a massive change since we both grew up lower middle class.”

Perks Backed By Numbers

The benefits of the DINK lifestyle aren’t just in stories; they show up in surveys too. A report in Forbes highlighted a study that was conducted on 1,241 couples in Japan. It found that one in five families chooses the DINK lifestyle. Among them, 46 per cent share living costs, more than half take up to two trips a year together, and 93 per cent can spend weekends and holidays with friends without worrying about childcare.