DINKs vs DIWKs: Making sound plans for buying a property that will keep you financially healthy in the long run

By Bricksnwall | 2025-10-29

Seema and Rajiv Mathur live in New Delhi and are both working professionals. They are a dual-income, no-kids (DINK) pair. Even though they make a lot of money together, they would rather rent than own a home. They value mobility and freedom. They often put their savings into mutual funds and Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs). They just stay away from the large emotional and financial commitment of owning a home.

Roliee Anshuman and her husband, who both work and have kids, live in Gurugram and want to buy a property first. They wish to make their family life stable. They also think owning property as a long-term investment, even though EMIs (Equated Monthly Installments) might be hard on their finances. Their major purpose is to keep their family safe and give them room to live. This emphasis on safety points to a larger trend.

The question: Why do DINKs choose to rent?

Couples who don't have kids usually find it easier to buy a home. They have more money to spend, less stress about money, and can save money more quickly. In a strange way, they are less likely to acquire homes than DIWK couples. DIWKs care more about owning things, even when they have more financial problems.

It's apparent that DINK couples make more money on average than other couples. They can save almost twice as much money every month. In principle, this skill provides them a better chance of being able to buy a home.

Madhupam Krishna, an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), says, "DIWKs are more likely to buy homes, even though they have more money." "They want security, space, and the chance to develop riches over time. Even if they have to bend their budgets, this is still true. DINKs might wait to buy. They like being able to move around, being flexible, or spending money on adventures and saving.

Abhishek Kumar, the founder of SahajMoney, tells couples, "No matter what your family situation is, always put saving for retirement ahead of buying a home early." You should only buy a house if you plan to live there for at least five years. Otherwise, renting gives you more freedom when it comes to investing.

Should you buy or rent? Making the smart choice

DINK couples that want to make money could rent in pricey cities like Delhi-NCR and Mumbai. Renting costs less up front and gives you more options for how to invest your money. It also lets them take advantage of the higher profits on their assets.

Krishna says, "Many financial models show that renters in Mumbai and Delhi who carefully invest their 'saved' money can build up 50% more wealth over 30 years than buyers." Even after years of paying rent, this discrepancy still stays true.

Rental yields (the money you make from renting a home compared to the price of the home) in these big cities are low, only 2–2.5% of the price of the home. The growth in property prices typically doesn't equal the gains from equity SIPs or mutual funds.

In cities with high costs of living, DINK couples frequently perform better financially and professionally by renting. Some couples, on the other hand, put buying first. They want their family to be stable for a long time and to be able to make their space their own. This approach could lead to slower increase of wealth and fewer assets that can be quickly turned into cash.

Understanding how affordable homes are

Kumar says, "But families who need stability or are dealing with rents that are going up quickly may benefit from buying a house." "Owning a home protects you from rent increases."

For couples who don't have kids, a decent option could be to buy a smaller 1BHK or 2BHK flat that costs between ₹50 and ₹80 lakh. This choice finds a balance between conserving money and reaching your ownership ambitions. After that, they can put their spare money into mutual fund SIPs to keep making money.

Couples that are DIWK should only use 40% of their monthly income to pay down their home loan EMIs. This is to buy a bigger 3BHK or 4BHK house close to reputable schools. This might require a bigger budget, maybe between ₹1 crore and ₹5 crore in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru.

Source: Hindustan Times