16 and Pregnant reduces pregnancies.

[MillCreek]

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/13/262175399/is-16-and-pregnant-an-effective-form-of-birth-control?utm_content=socialflow&utm_campaign=nprfacebook&utm_source=npr&utm_medium=facebook

I agree that this show is depressing.  It made my wife and I want all the more to call for licenses to have children.

[MechAg94]

I think I heard it as one of those statistical facts of life, graduate high school and don't have kids until your 20's and your odds of succeeding in life go up greatly. 

[Perd Hapley]

I think I heard it as one of those statistical facts of life, graduate high school and don't have kids until your 20's and your odds of succeeding in life go up greatly. 

I think the other two tips that usually go along with those stats are 1) avoid illegal drugs, and 2) don't commit crimes.

[lee n. field]

I think I heard it as one of those statistical facts of life, graduate high school and don't have kids until your 20's and your odds of succeeding in life go up greatly. 

Add to that, getting and staying married.

[dogmush]

Add to that, getting and staying married.

I've seen that correlation before.  I wonder if there's a causative factor there (i.e. being stably married makes it easier to succeed) or if it's just correlated (i.e. the skillset needed to succeed in life is the same set needed to keep a marriage running).

Would be an interesting study.

[RevDisk]

Add to that, getting and staying married.

Oddly, I always seemed to have more disposable cash than my married associates. I know the plural of ancedotal is not "data", but it is quite a bit of a sample pool.

I concur with the rest. Don't do drugs, get some kind of education, don't crank out kids until ready and don't get caught doing stupid things. You're pretty good to go.

[T.O.M.]

I've never watched the show.  I assumed it was glamorizing teen pregnancy, more or less turning it into a rock video with a happy ending.  Maybe it's showing reality enough to scare kids into taking precautions...

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

I've seen that correlation before.  I wonder if there's a causative factor there (i.e. being stably married makes it easier to succeed) or if it's just correlated (i.e. the skillset needed to succeed in life is the same set needed to keep a marriage running).

Would be an interesting study.

Being stably married is expensive, and most marital fights are over finances.

[dogmush]

Being stably married is expensive, and most marital fights are over finances.

Why do you say that?

I ask because mine sure isn't.  My house is more then I would have by myself, but not twice.  same with utilities, food and such.  Car's I guess are double because I'd still have a fast car and truck, so her explorer is just added on.  Income (roughly) doubles, but expenses don't.  at least in mine.

I suppose that adding kids in makes it expensive, but that (having kids) doesn't seem to have much correlation with marriage anymore.

Oddly, I always seemed to have more disposable cash than my married associates. I know the plural of ancedotal is not "data", but it is quite a bit of a sample pool.

Odd indeed.  I (and my wife) have way more disposable income then our single friends.  Weird. Of course, a quick mental tally of the single folks we know, only one is what I'd call successful.  Most stuck at a not great career level and many have some kind of child support payment. (or the kid)  Which is probably why I took lee's statement at face value.  At least of the folks I know stable marriage correlates with stable financials and upwardly mobile career path.

[Tallpine]

Generally I had way more disposable income when single, but perhaps that was mostly because I lived so cheap and on the move.  Little or no rent because I lived in a camper trailer.

That said we don't argue much about money.  I make it and she spends it     

[Fitz]

My wife is training to be a dental assistant. I'm looking forward to that income