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Retiring early is the goal

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Mr Ramesh Renganathan and Ms Channi Tay.

Mr Ramesh Renganathan and Ms Channi Tay, both 46, made a conscious choice not to have kids because of their childhood experiences, having both come from broken homes.

Mr Ramesh, who works as a financial consultant with Prudential, said: “Having come from separated families, it sort of had a psychological impact on us, and so we never thought about having kids.”

“My wife and I also wanted to focus on our careers, be financially free and retire early.” 

The couple earn a combined income of more than $23,000 a month, live in a four-room flat in Hougang, and the bulk of their monthly expenditure is spent on insurance ($30,000 a year). 

The kids-free lifestyle has allowed him to change his car every two or three years, as well as go on frequent work trips overseas without the worry of being an absent parent.

“Honestly, we lead very simple lives; we visit our relatives over the weekends, spend time at the mall together, and generally just support each other,” he said. 

Mr Ramesh said he has noticed more couples in recent times adopting the DINK approach, especially among his clients.

“I know of many couples in their late 20s who don’t want to have kids because they rather spend money on themselves. There are also a few who would rather adopt than conceive.”

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