20+ Real Benefits and Advantages of Not Having Kids (Childfree …)

Last Updated on February 14, 2024 by Lifevif Team and JC Franco

You’re probably on the cusp of great things… Your career could be just about to take off at high speed, or you could soon become a mother/father. But, the question begs to be answered! Do you choose a career and a fast-paced kid-free lifestyle, or do you take a deep breath and plunge into the joys of parenthood? What to do?! 

Many couples are faced with this very debacle, and the only way you can truly make a decision is to consider both the pros and cons of having kids (or not having them). Today, we are going to check out the benefits of not having kids. Welcome to childfree living…

Having no kids comes with many benefits, but that doesn’t mean that having kids is an absolute drag. Some people simply don’t want to have kids, and instead of feeling as if they are missing out or having people feel sorry for them, they’d love for others to know just how many benefits there are to childfree living. Read on to take a look at the many benefits and advantages of not having kids.

These are 21 advantages and benefits that childfree people enjoy:

1. You save a lot of money in the long run.

Kids cost money. There’s the birth, baby care items, furniture, schooling, tertiary education, and so much more to think of when you have a child. When you have no kids, your life is void of all of these extra expenses. 

2. Your carbon footprint is smaller.

According to Live Science, a woman’s carbon footprint increases by 5.7 times for every child that she has. That’s a lot of extra pressure on the earth to perform and provide. If you want to have a smaller impact on the earth, not having children might be a step in the right direction. 

3. Fewer headaches.

Screaming kids are the cause of many headaches. If you’re a parent to a newborn baby, chances are that the number of headaches you experience is about to increase significantly. It’s much the same in the toddler stage of tantrums. If you’re not keen on headaches, not having kids is a great way to ensure you have less in your lifetime. 

4. More free time to focus on personal endeavors.

Not having kids means that all your time is your own. You don’t have to make school trips or get kids ready for bed in the evening. You have all the time in the world to organize your life and ensure your personal projects are managed better. 

5. You don’t have the responsibility of caring for a child 24/7 for many years.

Having a child isn’t a short-term thing. Once you have a child, many years ahead are spent caring for that child and being responsible for that child. If you’re one that doesn’t like responsibility, having a child will be a lot of pressure on you. 

6. You don’t have to constantly put someone else first.

Parents have to make decisions for themselves and the family that’s best for the children. When you don’t have kids, the only person you really have to think about is yourself. 

7. Being impulsive is something you can enjoy!

Being childfree means that you can make plans on the very spur of the moment. It’s far easier to jet off for an unplanned weekend away or meet friends out for an impromptu dinner night. If you have kids, these things are difficult…if not impossible. 

8. You can build your career.

While some people with kids do have a thriving career, it’s a very difficult task. Without kids, you can truly focus on driving your career to greater success. You have more time for early mornings and late evenings at the office, and you don’t have to worry about who will look after the kids if you have to go away for business or attend a sudden business meeting after work or over the weekend.

9. You can do your bit towards reducing overcrowding in the world.

Overcrowding is a real problem, and for the environmentally conscious, one way of taking a stand against it is to avoid having children. For some, this isn’t because they don’t want children, but more because they realize what the current negative impact of having children has on the environment and population levels. 

10. You get to have nice things.

Without all those extra expenses in your life, you get to enjoy having nice things for yourself. No school fees and university tuition fees to save for could mean that you get to buy your dream apartment or invest in a business. 

11. Your stress levels are far reduced in comparison to your peers.

People with children have one thing in common: high-stress levels. Having to care for yourself and another living person is a lot of pressure for someone. Stress levels are heightened throughout parenthood. Without children, you could end up having stress, but it won’t be because of children. 

12. Do what you want, when you want.

When you don’t have children, you have the freedom to do exactly what you, when you want. Travel the world on the spur of the moment. Go out to dinner and drink too much. Sleep in on a Saturday. Have long, languid baths. Do whatever your heart desires because there is no one else you need to do things for. 

13. You never have to hire a babysitter.

While your peers are scrambling for babysitters so they can do something they would really enjoy, you get to enjoy the convenience of simply doing what you want…no babysitter is needed.

14. You get to sleep in more often.

Any parent will tell you that young kids like to get up early and start “doing things”. As a parent to young children, late nights are a thing of the past, and so are languid mornings spent lying in bed. Without children, you can sleep in every weekend if you want to. 

15. Travel plans are a whole lot easier.

For starters, without children, you never have to worry about having a screaming child to appease on a plane. You don’t have to look for child-friendly accommodation, and you certainly don’t have to spend your holiday doing kiddies activities. Ah, bliss!

16. You never have to put yourself through parental small talk.

Have you ever heard parents talking and wondered if they have anything real to talk about? Parents have to do parental small talk, which usually involves chatter about tummies, dummies, and everything in between. If that’s not your cup of tea, don’t worry; if you don’t have kids, you don’t have to participate. Phew!

17. Have all the fun with none of the responsibility…n k

The nice thing about not having kids is that there is no shortage of them around. You can have fun with kids who belong to friends and family members, and then you get to give them back and go about your life as usual, without the responsibility. Sounds ideal, doesn’t it?

18. Your life has more flexibility.

When you have kids, you need to have some sort of schedule in place. You can’t plan to go to the beach and then decide that you’d rather stay in for a nap and some TV – unless you want tantrums, of course. Without kids, your life can be as flexible as you want it to be. 

19. Maintain your youthful appearance.

It’s a commonly known fact that having kids can ruin the figure and age you. While there’s no way to fight aging off, you will undoubtedly maintain your figure and look younger for longer without them. 

20. No obligatory kid’s parties to go to.

If you don’t have kids, your weekends won’t be filled with going to other kids’ parties. As a non-parent, you won’t feel obligated to go to these even if your friends invite you.

21. Your weekends are your own – live your life.

Parents will undoubtedly tell you that their weekends haven’t been their own since they had kids. Kids need entertaining and constant looking after. If you choose to be childfree, you can truly enjoy your weekends any way you like. 

Last Word

While this is not to say that you’ll have a more rewarding life without kids, it is undeniable that a kid-free life has a number of advantages and benefits. Consider the above advantages before you decide whether having kids is for you or not.