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Comment by b3ing | Hacker News Reader

Any causes? Is it that we are too independent and don’t like collectivism? A conspiracy might say it’s on purpose to have more people pay for things typically bought for a couple. Like everyone having their own house, cable bill, utility bill, water bill, …

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After college, I intentionally lived with roommates. The three of us were doing well, having secured jobs at Microsoft and Amazon.

Even so, splitting rent, utilities, and furniture was a significant financial advantage and helped set us up for long-term success.

We had our disagreements, and eventually a falling out with one roommate, but I’d do it all again. The other roommate and I are life long friends and you learn lessons and form bonds in addition to the financial benefit.

The population is growing older. Young adults rarely live alone, while retirees often do. There are more old people than there used to be, and people often want to continue living in their own home after their spouse dies.

The American tendency to move away from family earlier is probably involved.

Probably most of all the increase of the age of marriage

Which I think is a secondary effect of many other things happening; staying in school for longer, much higher cost of living, cultural shifts like being more aware of what is normal and acceptable in a relationship, etc. It's not unusual for people to be in their 30's before finally having some (financial, etc) breathing room to even consider things like marriage / kids.

Also, but I think that most of all there used to be pressure to get married early

> too independent

individualistic

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