Marrying someone is a huge step in any relationship, and many choose to wait for the right moment. Partially thanks to this extra caution, the average age for marriage in the U.S. has increased over the last decade and now sits at around 30 years old for men and 28 years old for women. In this article, we’ll take a look at factors that impact this decision and how to find out if you’re actually ready to tie the knot.
Factors That Affect the Age of Marriage
When someone finds their soulmate and dreams of having a family, this usually leads to plans for marriage. However, a lot of people decide to wait for the perfect moment due to a few factors, such as financial difficulties. If two partners don’t share the same values of savings and budget, they usually prefer to get it all sorted out before taking the next step.
Of course, you should keep in mind that tying the knot makes it easier to receive the financial benefits that come with marriage, like getting debt repayment or saving and investing together. Married couples could also pay less taxes and combine their budgets when buying a home or raising children. You should consider all these factors before deciding to postpone your marriage plans.
How to Know if the Timing Is Right
If you and your partner wish to get married but are unsure of the right timing, you should sit down and talk through the pros and cons of your financial goals and plans. If you can’t figure out the topics to discuss, these questions might help you.
First, ask yourselves how much debt each person has, and how would you pay it off after marriage. How much savings you have, individually and jointly, is also important. You should consider whether you share the same values and goals for saving, spending, and controversial matters. You also should think about whether you have similar future plans, like owning property or having children. Keep all this information in mind, but also remember to follow your intuition. You can also seek assistance from a professional to help guide you through the planning process.