Aaron and his wife, Makiko, are DINKS living in Oregon. Originally, both had full-time jobs. Then, Aaron’s mom suffered from failing health and decided to move in with them. Aaron decided not to sell his mother’s house. Instead, he kept it and rented it out so his mother would have a steady source of income from the rental in addition to her social security and small IRA … [Read more...] about Resources to Learn How to Invest in Real Estate
Smart Ways to Spend $3000
Do you have an extra $3,000 you need to decide how to spend? It may have come from a work bonus, a tax return, a stimulus check, or a small inheritance from a long-lost uncle. Whichever way you received the money, there are many smart ways to spend $3000. … [Read more...] about Smart Ways to Spend $3000
What to Do If You’re Unhappy Where You Live
During the pandemic, Americans were on the move. Many moved to be closer to family. Others moved because they were working remotely and could choose locations with a lower cost of living. But what if you can’t move? What if you’re anchored to your town because of a job or family, but you're unhappy where you live? What options do you have then? … [Read more...] about What to Do If You’re Unhappy Where You Live
Low-Maintenance Pets for Traveling Couples
Part of the fun of being a DINK couple is that you can be spontaneous. You don’t have kids’ schedules or routines to worry about, so if you feel like having a quick weekend getaway, you can as long as your schedule is clear. If you’d also like to be a pet owner, there are many low-maintenance pets for traveling couples. True, you might not be able to own a dog if you don’t want … [Read more...] about Low-Maintenance Pets for Traveling Couples
Why You Shouldn’t Refinance to Pay Off Consumer Debt
. About 15 months ago, we decided to refinance our home. The interest rate was lower than when we had bought our house six years earlier, and our house had appreciated enough that we could drop PMI (private mortgage insurance) when we refinanced. The mortgage broker working with us asked if we wanted a cash-out refinance to pay off debt. Our answer was a hard and fast “no.” … [Read more...] about Why You Shouldn’t Refinance to Pay Off Consumer Debt
How to Help a Spouse with a Shopping Addiction
Are your credit cards maxed out? Does your spouse continue to shop even though you’re deep in debt? Are there clothes with the tags still on them in your closet? Does your spouse have collections that clutter your house? If all of this sounds familiar, you may be living with a spouse with a shopping addiction. You can help a spouse with a shopping addiction, but doing so won’t … [Read more...] about How to Help a Spouse with a Shopping Addiction
How to Make It Worthwhile to Shop for Two at Costco
Costco is known for gigantic packs of toilet paper and bulk size food items. If you’re a DINK, you may think Costco has no place in your life. After all, you don’t need to buy enough toilet paper in one trip to last for the year, and there’s no way you can eat a 10-pound bag of carrots before they go bad. However, I urge you to rethink your opinion. There are plenty of ways to … [Read more...] about How to Make It Worthwhile to Shop for Two at Costco
How to Tell If Your Spouse Is Hiding Money
The number one cause of divorce is disagreements about money. While we may think of this meaning arguing about how you each spend money, there can also be a darker side. In some marriages, spouses hide money from one another. This can lead to divorce, especially if the behavior has lasting financial implications such as bankruptcy. … [Read more...] about How to Tell If Your Spouse Is Hiding Money
More Reasons Why DINKS Choose Not to Have Kids
People enter the DINKS lifestyle for different reasons. The most common reasons are that they don’t want children, can’t afford children, or can’t have children. However, while those reasons may comprise most DINKS couples in the United States, there are other, more nuanced reasons why couples choose to be DINKS. … [Read more...] about More Reasons Why DINKS Choose Not to Have Kids
Reasons Why Unmarried Couples Need a Will
As recently as 2010, approximately 15 million people live together as an unmarried couple (Nolo.com). Couples choose to live together rather than get married for a variety of reasons. However, if you’re one of these cohabitating couples, you need to realize that you don’t have as many of the rights and protections as married couples have. Therefore, you need to protect yourself … [Read more...] about Reasons Why Unmarried Couples Need a Will
