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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Sian Baldwin

What is a DINK relationship? Viral TikTok term explained

The term DINK has gone viral after an American couple bragged on the internet about their extravagant lifestyle.

Lilly Anne and her husband Evan have posted a video of themselves discussing their "happy DINK life" on the social media app TikTok.

The pair posted a tongue-in-cheek clip, saying they were regularly able to enjoy lavish nights out, extravagant dinners, and all the food shopping they wanted — purely down to being "DINKS".

They also boasted about always having disposable cash, not worrying about unexpected bills, and being able to make their hobbies — such as golf and football — their priorities:

@lillyanne_

Living the best life, the D.I.N.K life 😎 #dink #nokids #couple #fyp

♬ original sound - Lilly

But what exactly is the "DINK" lifestyle that Lilly and Evan are living? Here is what we know:

What is a DINK relationship?

DINK is an acronym that stands for "Dual Income, No Kids".

In the case of Lilly Anne and Evan, they have no children and say that their lives are happier as a result as they can do what they want, when they want.

A couple can use the term DINK if both of them are working, earn an income, and neither have children that they need to be responsible for in any way.

The term has gone viral after many people have discussed the "financial craze" online and labelled themselves "DINKS".

Some users have called it "hedonism", while others have applauded those who consider themselves "happy DINKS" by living their lives unapologetically.

One user, Tim Kennedy, said on X: "I find this #DINK obsession very sad. The idea that you are spinning through the universe on a rock for the sole purpose of being part of consumerism is sad. DINK is the art of convincing people they need things they never knew they wanted or needed.

"It's a bizarre dance where our self-worth seems directly proportional to the number of things we own. They’ve reached a point where our houses (not homes) are so cluttered with impulse buys that Marie Kondo would need a SWAT team just to enter.

"But hey, who needs inner peace or a family when you can have another kitchen gadget that promises to chop vegetables and sing a lullaby simultaneously? Consumerism: where retail therapy meets a dark, comedic tragedy of a pointless existence."

Others also waded into the debate on X:

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