How child-free couples are rethinking retirement math

Focus is on flexibility, experiences and early retirement over traditional child-centric targets

- Anagh Pal [e-mail]

For Dipshikha Bhattacharyya, a 43-year-old communication professional in Pune, and Sambit Pal, a 44-year-old journalist turned academician, the decision to not have children wasn’t driven by financial considerations. It was a mutual, conscious choice rooted in the belief that they didn’t want to bring a new life into the world unless they could do so with complete conviction. “Choosing to remain child-free has given us clarity about what we want our long-term financial life to look like,” said Bhattacharyya.

Shreya Johri, a 30-year-old communications professional in Delhi, and Apoorv Murpana, a 29-year-old assistant director at a finance firm, echoed their views, saying the choice to not have children changed the way they navigated money and life by allowing them to prioritise travel, experiences, pets, and causes dear to them.

“Since we are not planning for expenses like schooling, college or weddings, we are more inclined to plan for an early retirement so that, if life permits, we can enjoy our later years in peace and comfort,” said Johri.

These are not isolated cases. Across urban India, child-free couples are intentionally reshaping their finances, prioritising flexibility, early retirement, experiences, and long-term self-reliance over traditional child-centric milestones and expenses.

Retiring without support system

For couples without children, longevity risk isn’t simply about making sure the money doesn’t run out; it's about knowing they will be on their own in old age, unlike conventional households in which children typically support their elderly parents.