They have “the most spoiled dogs in the world”. They go on 10 vacations a year. They spend hours a day on their favorite hobbies.
According to a new Harris Poll survey, they’re DINKs, dual incomes, no kids, and the 5% of Americans living like the new 1%.
“The data shows that DINKs aren’t just spending more — they’re spending differently, emphasizing experiences that enhance their partnerships and personal growth,” said Libby Rodney, Chief Strategy Officer. Officer The Harris Poll said in a statement accompanying the new survey. . “This is a segment that has redefined discretionary spending as an investment in life experience.”
@keslynhart No kids period on our dual income 💅✈️ #duelincomenokids #dinks ♬ Original Sound – Keslyn Hart
What is DINK? And why do they have so much money?
The term DINK, sometimes known as dual income, no kids, has been around for a while, first popping up in the old days (the 80s). But the term has resurfaced in late 2023 after going viral on TikTok as Millennial and Gen Z couples report that they are avoiding or avoiding having children altogether, making child-rearing costs a reality. is presented as the main factor.
A Harris Poll survey found that 61% of DINKs have a household income of more than $100,000. The median net worth of a childless couple in 2022 was around $399,000, which was $100,000 more than in 2019 and $150,000 more than couples with children.
Research shows that while couples with children actually make more money, they end up with a lower net worth because they face more debt than their childless counterparts.
Will DINK ever have children? It depends on the couple.
According to the survey, 65% of Gen Z and Millennial DINKs plan to eventually have children, with 37% aiming within the next five years. Meanwhile, they are spending on luxury and premium experiences in dining, travel, and personal development products.
“The rise of DINKs doesn’t reject parenthood — it’s a generational response to economic shock, turning financial security into the ultimate luxury,” Rodney said.
@erumyy enjoying our dink era while it lasts #dinks #nyc #richauntie #marriagehumor ♬ 6khhx_ Voice – ☆
There’s even an acronym for DINKs who plan to be parents: DINKY, or dual income, no kids yet. If you are single, you will be SINK (single income, no children) or SINKY (single income, no children yet).
It’s unclear how many people are actually using all these other abbreviations. But the DINK hashtag on TikTok boasts tens of thousands of posts, with videos having tens of millions of views.
What are DINK spending their money on? Luxury, travel, and personal development
DINKs, which the report calls the 5% that are the new 1%, are reshaping consumer trends with their financial flexibility and high discretionary spending. On average, they spend four times more on food each month than other Americans ($816 vs. $215) and spend nearly twice the typical vacation budget, investing $2,000 per trip.
Their child-free lifestyles fuel frequent travel and personal growth, with 88% channeling their income toward experiences and self-development, while 76% use their children to enable these activities. They give credit to the pure status. This spending power positions DINKs as a key audience for luxury brands, financial services, and quality of life upgrades.
@littlemissremi and that’s DINKWAD pawrents in their 20s 🤞🏼 #dualincomenokidswithadog #dog #puppy #dogsoftikt #puppytiktok #dogperson #labsarethebest #baby #fyp #imfamous ♬ Idj_back Girl Rogers
For the record, many DINKs have extended themselves to call themselves DINKWADs, “dual incomes, not puppies.” This spawned the whole viral trend of videos posted from the point of view of dogs as “bad” only children.
Spoiling beloved pets isn’t the only perk DINK says comes with their lifestyle. DINK couples who good luck He previously spoke about his choice for a variety of reasons: passion, financial independence, or focusing on his career.
A report from Credit Karma earlier this year echoed that sentiment, finding that a quarter of American women are delaying having children to focus on their careers, a figure that’s more than half of those women. Corresponds to numbers that earn more than their partners.
@investwithnat Life as DINKWADs (no double income with a dog) 💕🐶 #DINKWAD #DINK #dinkwadsoftikt #moneytok ♬ Cena Engraçada e Inusitada de 3 min – HarmonicoHCO
Why some people, including Elon Musk, oppose the Dunk lifestyle.
Still, the DINK lifestyle isn’t without its critics.
Elon Musk, the CEO and founder of Tesla and SpaceX, recently warned that if the younger generation doesn’t start having more children, society will be “destroyed.” The billionaire, who fathers 12 children by three different women, also said last month that people are “too worried” and should “have babies”.
“I think people are very concerned about having children, and sometimes it’s hard to make ends meet,” Musk said during a pro-Trump rally in October. “But honestly, there’s really no time like the present. Just be kids. You won’t regret it. It’ll work.”
Whether society will “fall apart” remains to be seen, but reports suggest that lower birth rates could affect overall GDP. James Pomeroy, global economist at HSBC, previously said that the decline in GDP from this aging population could be as much as 4%. Business Insider.
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