DINKWAD – Meaning, Origin & Usage

If you’re wondering why ‘DINKWAD’ in the title is in all caps it’s because it’s an acronym rather than a word. But even if you were to try and guess what it stands for, it might not necessarily jump out at you. If that’s you, don’t worry, that’s what this article is here for.

In this article, we’re going to spell out what DINKWAD stands for and what it means, and delve into how the term originated and was popularised. We will also cover related terms and phrases, and compare and contrast the DINKWAD lifestyle with other lifestyle decisions. We’ll wrap up with a section where we answer your most frequently asked questions on the subject. By the end you’re sure to feel like an expert.

And without further ado let’s get straight to it.

What does the acronym DINKWAD stand for? 

The letters in the term DINKWAD stand for “Dual income, no kids, with a dog”. It describes a trending lifestyle choice where couples decide not to have kids but to get a dog instead.

This is an increasingly popular lifestyle choice, and polling done by the Independent Center, in association with Newsweek, has shown that 30 percent of Gen Zers (people born between 1997 and 2012) and millennials (people born between 1981 and 1996) did not have nor want any children.

This is also in line with people choosing to have kids later in life than they had previously. For instance, Time magazine reported that In 2022, for the seventh year in a row, the birth rate among U.S. women in their early 30s was higher than the rate among those in their late 20s.

Origins of the acronym DINKWAD 

The term DINK was coined at the height of yuppie culture in the 1980s. The term solidified during the recession of late 2007 to mid 2009, as more and more couples decided to wait longer before starting a family for economic reasons.

The hashtag #DINKWAD now has over 134.9 million views on TikTok, and you will often see viral photos and videos depicting couples who spoil their dogs rotten and enjoy luxury holidays.

Understanding why people might choose the DINKWAD lifestyle

Some couples choose the DINKWAD lifestyle because they wish to delay having children together, while others choose to never have children. Their decisions largely come down to personal preferences, but sometimes this may be influenced by career priorities, social and economic factors, or even environmental concerns.

The DINKWAD lifestyle is more affordable than having children, leaving DINKWADs with much more disposable income with which to enjoy themselves and live their best lives.

DINKWADs are often animal lovers who consider their dogs to be members of their family. They often plan their lives around their dogs, such as moving to a location that’s good for dog walking. DINKWADs may also be able to travel more spontaneously, and have more money to spend on their pooch and on travelling and their hobbies. They often take their fur-babies on holiday with them.

DINKWADs never have to worry about finding a babysitter or dealing with temper tantrums, teenage angst, or constantly buying new clothes for growing children. This inevitably means that childless couples have less stress than those couples who have children.

For some couples, getting a dog together makes for a great test-run before parenthood to see how well they would cope with the responsibility.

The choosing of the DINKWAD lifestyle may stem from the desire for financial security and freedom, for example to be better able to afford getting on the property ladder, or to pay off their student debts, and so on. It also relieves couples of the increasingly high costs of childcare and larger vehicles, and gives them a greater chance to achieve early retirement. In general DINKWAD spending becomes about discretion and options rather than necessity.

The decision to delay parenthood may, for some women, be down to a greater focus on career advancement. With maternity leave being increased to a full year in many countries, it may not always be a good time to take a year off if there’s an interesting career opportunity available. 

Objections to DINKWADs and the backlash DINKWADs get

Even now, there are still people who struggle to understand the lifestyle. Many people who’ve had the joy of having children simply cannot understand why a happy couple would forgo having such a satisfying, yet rollercoaster life that parenting comes with.

When DINKWADs boast about their lifestyle on social media apps such as Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, they often face backlash in the form of critics who complain about the bragging, especially when the photos and such are accompanied with captions about how much money the DINKWADS save by not having kids. 

Comparing and contrasting related terms and phrases

These days there are several different acronyms that describe the lifestyle decisions of people today. We will run through several of them just to make you aware. They are as follows.

• DINK – simply stands for “dual income, no kids”

A couple may decide to have neither kids nor pets, but this is usually rare.

• DINKY – stands for “dual income, no kids YET”

If a couple would like to have kids at some point then they may describe themselves as DINKY.

• SINK – stands for “single income, no kids”

A SINK may be an independent person, or they might be supporting their partner financially

• DINKWAC – means “double income, no kids, with a cat”

Many couples prefer cats to dogs, perhaps because they are generally easier to look after and don’t require walking

• DINKWAP – stands for “double income, no kids, with a pet”

A family pet does not necessarily need to be a cat or dog. Fish, for example, are very easy to look after, especially for couples who go away a lot.

• DINKWAH – stands for “double income, no kids, with a house”

Getting on the property ladder may be important to some couples.

• DINO – means “double income, no options”

Couples with no emergency savings, no spare income and no financial protection

• SINBAD – stands for “Single income, no boyfriend/assets/dude”

A single person who is working but has no partner or assets. They may be happy or unhappy.

• KIPPER – stands for “Kids in parents’ pockets eroding retirement savings”

Young people may occasionally rely on their parents for their mortgage deposits, tuition fees, weddings, or lifestyles

• PODWOG – means “Parents of DINKs without grandchildren”

Refers to people of grandparent age who are not grandparents

• GINK – stands for “Green inclinations, no kids”

People who are environmentally conscious and choose not to have children for environmental reasons.

• DINKER – stands for “double income no kids, early retirement”

Couples who’ve never had kids can often afford to retire early

• SKI – stands for “spending kid’s inheritance”

Couples who enjoy spending money on themselves rather than saving it for their children to inherit.

• WOOF – stands for “well-off older folk”

Like DINKWADs, well-off older folk are also able to live an extravagant lifestyle.

Why knowing what DINKWAD means matters in business

Couples without children in general tend to have more money than those with children. They also tend to spend more money on their pets. This makes DINKWAD couples (also referred to as families, due to their pets being considered family) an excellent target market for business because they will spend more money on themselves, more money on their pets, and more money on dog- or pet- friendly pubs, cafes, holidays and staycations.

FAQs

Is calling someone a DINKWAD an insult?

As much as “DINKWAD” might sound like an insult, we can assure you that it is not.

Are parents happier than childfree people?

While many people might assume that people with children are happier then those who are childless, there has been some research that shows that quite often the opposite to be true. One study that surveyed a thousand childfree people found that only 4% felt some kind of regret over their choice.

Final word

So, to summarise, the acronym DINKWAD stands for “Dual income, no kids, with a dog”. It describes a trending lifestyle choice where couples decide not to have kids but to get a dog instead. It’s been a growing trend since around 2008, and has since become a prominent hashtag on X. 

Choosing this lifestyle leaves couples with much greater disposable income that they may choose to use on their pet/s or on travelling at a moment’s notice. Such couples are more free, and can often really live it up, so it comes as no surprise that this lifestyle is becoming increasingly popular. 

Unfortunately, however, these couples often face backlash over their lifestyle choice, with outsiders unable to understand why DINKWADs would delay or forgo having children. This negative attitude may be caused, at least in part by jealousy over the somewhat extravagant DINKWAD lifestyle. However, it is believed that over time, the stigma around this lifestyle choice will surely dissipate and find more favour.