Nearly one in Five Delaying Major Life Decisions
It certainly should not be a surprise that the worst economy since the Great Depression is causing many Americans to postpone major life decisions like getting married, having kids or getting a divorce. Such choices can translate into hefty financial investments and undue stress when the future looks so uncertain.
A new national FindLaw.com survey released last week found that 18% of Americans say they are putting off such decisions because of economic concerns. More specifically:
- 10% are putting off marriage or delaying having children
- 6% are delaying adoption or considering adoption
- 4% Four percent are delaying divorce
Delaying such decisions most deeply impacts younger adults and those with lower incomes:
- 40% between the ages of 18 and 34 say they are waiting to get married and have children
- 35% of those earning less than $35,000 per year are also opting to wait for happier economic times.
Related Links:
Huffington Post:Recession Kills The Mood. Americans Put Off Marriage
Getting Married: A Checklist (FindLaw)
Living Together (Cohabitation) & Common Law Marriage (FindLaw)
MSNBC: How Much do Kids Actually Cost?
New York Times: Divorce & the Business Cycle
Divorce in the Recession: Do it Yourself? (FindLaw)
Five Tips on Child Custody & Visitation (FindLaw)
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