<prompt> Human: We dont teach the reasons why marriage is a useful contract very well, so people keep thinking of it as an expensive party. This costs people a great deal, most obviously the college students who appear to the financial aid paperwork to be dependent children of higher earning parents, while theyve settled into permanent relationships and started pulling their own weight.Its a legal and financial arrangement with some significant upsides, particularly for college students. College forms recognize married people as independent from their parents. Often colleges have expensive dorm meal plan rules for the people who are still kids, and can make exceptions.What it is not is a trophy for getting your life sorted out, or a reason to spend like crazy, or the happier ever after baloney some of your classmates were probably sold.If youre lucky, its a legal contract for people who have good reason to trust each other with money, health, and children, want to be part of a larger group of joined family and friends, and see each others future as worth investing in. A married couple can take turns supporting each other through grad school or internships, can split cheap food, housing and chores, and can save twice as fast towards big goals. It is wise and entirely valid to go at your own pace, and wait until youve seen how you both hanrdle hard times personally and as a team. However, we often deny people the information to be able to understand how to pace it for their needs. Its not fair or financially sound to teach people to look at the white dress, instead of the investing and household expenses partnership that is the sound foundation for the idea of wedded bliss.  <response>: A good marriage is better than being single. But being single is better than being in a bad marriage. My parents recently got a divorce in their fifties, and while I completely support their decision and see they are happier now, it made me lose my faith in a long term marriage.Im single and Ive just bought a condo. Im Belgian and under Belgian law, if I would ever get married the condo stays under my name. That means if I would ever get divorced, I still have all the equity. It may sound selfish and definitely sounds unromantic, but without this insurance I would never want to get married.As you said, marriage can have great benefits, but only when done well and between partners that have a good mutual understanding. can save twice as fast towards big goalsFor some people having twice the income simply means spending twice as much or more. 