Millennials Choosing Pets Over Parenthood
It’s no secret that millennials have been given the reputation of making unconventional choices when it comes to their lifestyles and beliefs. They are constantly being ridiculed by previous generations for killing department stores, banning plastic straws, and destroying the housing market, but it doesn’t end there. Millennials are now choosing to adopt pets instead of having children, and they have some pretty solid reasons.
Let’s talk money.
It makes the world go ‘round and, is often hard to come by. When factoring the cost of raising a child, it goes far beyond just the basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter. There’s also added expenses like extracurricular sports and college tuition or bribing college officials if your kid is less than qualified. The figures are astronomical and can obviously increase even more depending on the type of lifestyle you want to provide for your child, not to mention figuring in each additional child.
The estimated cost of raising a child is ~$14,000 annually, while the average cost of owning a pet is typically $1,000 for the first year, and then $500 for each additional year. Most millennials would rather spend their hard-earned money on saving for large purchases, avocado toast, or paying off their student loans. Let’s face it, kids are expensive and an investment with very little return.
More flexibility.
Millennials are always on the go, and having kids is a full-time job. It’s not always easy to find a babysitter when they can’t come along, and leaving them home alone is typically frowned upon, but this is not a concern with pets.
Aside from long trips, there isn’t usually a need for a pet sitter, but with today’s technology and introducing apps like Rover and Wag!, it’s super simple to arrange animal care so millennials can live their best life and rest assured that their beloved pet well cared for.
Unconditional love.
As a generation of human beings that are known for being emotionally damaged, it’s nice to have the reassuring, unconditional love of an animal. Pets will love you pretty much no matter what you do to them, and they don’t talk back or throw embarrassing tantrums in the supermarket.
Pets have your back no matter what. They bark at sketchy strangers to keep you safe, give you wet kisses after a long day, and let’s not forget the infinite number of snuggles. Most importantly, they don’t judge you. Do kids do that? Nope.
F*ck cultural norms.
Obviously, pets and children are not the same thing, but kids just aren’t for everyone. In a society that influences women to become mothers whether they want to or not, we applaud millennials for sticking to their guns and making the choices they want for their own lives.
Nobody likes to hear that awkward question at the next family gathering, “so when are you going to have a baby?” Millennials are a generation capable of more than procreation and conforming to cultural norms. They are creative, innovative, and changing the world in ways never thought possible.
Authored (and spoken like a true millennial by Ashley Gerber of Bound-by Marketing
References:
https://www.moneyunder30.com/the-true-cost-of-pet-ownership
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cost-of-raising-a-child-parents-save-up/