Something happened this year that made our lives a million times easier: we made more money.
That whole line people feed you about how money can’t buy happiness? They’re lying.
What is a DINK?
This year, Eric and I have truly taken advantage of being DINKs—Dual Income, No Kids. And it’s fabulous.
We can spend all this money on ourselves without feeling guilty. We can go out to eat on a whim. We can board the dog with his grandma and grandpa and take weekend getaways.
The past six months have been about achieving the lifestyle we wish we could have had back when we were young and broke newlyweds.
We’ve definitely taken advantage of our lifestyle inflation and we have plenty of egregious examples.
Here are 5 signs you’re also living the DINK lifestyle.
You’re a member of a Monthly Massage Club
This was bad. Eric and I are sharing a membership to a monthly massage club, and we’ve gone about 6 times in July alone… massages are the best!!
Thankfully this expense is approved through our Flex Spending Medical Account, but it’s still an extravagant luxury that we are totally loving right now.
The Mailman asks What You ordered this time
My online shopping addiction has gotten so bad, Eric is always asking what the heck I’m ordering. In one week, we received a box from Zappos, Nordstrom’s, Amazon, Ann Taylor Loft and Ebay…
It’s like I just can’t stop. And my finger just keeps pushing the damn mouse button on its own.
You can’t imagine loving anyone more than your dog
Our dog is our baby and he is the most spoiled thing on this planet. We had a ninth birthday party for his birthday–complete with cake and doggie treat presents.
He has a full closet full of clothes. Even when we were poor, we may have lived off frozen pizza
You’re always planning a vacation
It seems that as soon as you come back from vacation, you’re ready to start planning your next vacation. Our biggest hurdle has been trying to get around Eric’s work schedule, because the discretionary funds are flowing!
Finally, did you know there is an entire personal finance blog devoted to the DINK life? Yep, its called DINKS Finance and its at www.dinksfinance.com.
Are you a DINK? How are you living the DINK lifestyle?
18 comments
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My husband and I are definitely DINKs. I am part of Massage Envy’s club but need to learn more about this going through benefits deal you speak of! I would love to be able to do that!!
One of the many reasons I’m stoked to be returning to teaching is that I’ll once again be bringing in a full time, professional income. (Working full time at a gym or library pays a LOT less, ya know?) I’m already dreaming about how I’m going to treat myself (massage? pedicure? fancy dinner?) when I get that first pay check!
I just wanna let you know your baby bucket list says you’re planning on sometime in 2014 😉 We like being DINKs too! But usually our expenses get the best of us…
I’m not a DINK but you guys have to fill me in on this massage club through benefits? lol…
Even though I don’t have kids I don’t consider myself a DINK…I guess I would be a SINK? Yup, that sounds about right. 🙂 I still can’t do that kind of stuff though since I’m on such a tight budget. I would say though I do have the freedom of time not having any kids. I don’t have to worry about getting home because of the sitter.
My husband and I are no longer DINKS, but we were for four years before our kid (who’s now two) was born, and yes, we lived that lovely DINK lifestyle. We ate out a lot, entertained weekly, attended concerts and went to the theater frequently, and traveled as much as our jobs would allow. Now with a kiddo, our spending habits are similar- I too have a shopping and travelling addiction- but because the kid is in bed by 7:30PM, our eating out and entertainment expenses have decreased. I do miss the spontaneity of “Ooh! New restaurant just opened. Wanna go?” and going.
I wouldn’t call myself a “DINK” just yet because I am on my own with income. I love all of the freedom I have and the ability to make decisions by myself on what I want to purchase. =)
I love being a DINK couple. It’s absolutely amazing! My husband and I are pretty independent so we do whatever we want most of the time. Pretty cool. We would have to be a lot more money conscious than we are now.
I recognized my DINKery when I joined my favorite winery’s wine club.
YES!
Michael and I have no kids and about 2.5 years left in Hawaii. He is going to be away A LOT with his job and I will be traveling a bit for work too. This means that this time is all about splurging and saving. Save while we’re apart and splurge during the little time we do get to be together (hotel stays, dinners, vacations, clothes, his nerdy habits). We do have plans to start trying for kids when we move back to the mainland and get settled but right now we are building a nest egg while enjoying life’s pleasures and I am loving it.
We want to make sure we live it up as much as possible as times like this might not always come around in life 🙂
We’re definitely DINKS – minus the massages. We enjoy being able to order things online without feeling guilty, take short trips (though this has slowed down because we’re saving for a house), and having lots of ‘me’ and ‘us’ time together. It’s very enjoyable!
hahaha this is awesome! I love the abbreviation too. It’s tough being broke newlyweds. My husband and I enjoyed it at first, but now it’s starting to get old real fast.. lol
LOVE this entry, because I can relate to it. I AM TOTALLY A DINK! My husband and I buy what we want… basically, love our dog TO THE MAX and it seems everyday there is a new package arriving on our doorstep. And the massage thing? We’ve got 4 times in the last month and we’re not a member of a club, we just process it through benefits. Yep, being a DINK is awesome.
We are DINKs, but still have a lot of debt and a fairly low income. I can’t wait to make more money and take advantage of some more luxuries. Even so, we have a pretty good life and splurge when we can. But for now, our focus is on debt and building up income. Those massages sound so nice!
I was a bit confused when I first heard the term but I am definitely living the lifestyle of a ‘DINK’. I have a lot of ‘me’ time when Im not working so I can do whatever I want and I love the freedom. That will end, of course, when we have kids, but for now I am loving every minute of it.