'CBC' trend explained as 'DINK' relationships take Millennials by storm

It feels like every other week, there's a brand-new buzzword cropping up all over our feeds.

Whether it's 'shallowing', 'nutmaxxing' or 'future faking' - it's clear the youth of today love a nifty little phrase to explain a social phenomenon.

And the whole concept of a 'DINK' relationship proves exactly that, with the trend seemingly taking Millennials by storm.

Now, in case the viral acronym has somehow passed you by, 'DINK' simply stands for 'dual income no kids', meaning it's a relationship with two wages coming into a household, with no kids to spend it on (out of choice).

Some people decide to be 'DINKS' in their early twenties, but for some, it's a life they envision for the foreseeable future.

And whether it's because you can rest assured knowing you'll be getting your full eight hours sleep a night and having enough time and money to splash out on lavish date nights every week, it's easy to see why some people would choose this path.

A relationship expert has explained all we need to know about 'CBC' relationships (Getty Stock Images)

But it seems there's another parenting trend on the block known as 'CBC', which is very closely related to the whole 'DINK' phenomenon.

Mecca Bingo has teamed up with Jessica Alderson, relationship expert and co-founder of dating tool So Syncd, to reveal the biggest dating trends set to shape the year ahead and up there on the list was 'CBC'.

'CBC' trend explained

According to the expert, many have been using CBC as an abbreviation of 'childfree by choice'.

"More daters are intentionally choosing a childfree life," Jessica said. "This isn’t a rejection of family, but it’s about embracing freedom, creativity and self-actualisation in other ways. Economic realities, climate concerns and shifting values are all playing a part, but at its core, this trend is about self-awareness."

The relationship expert added: "With the rise of coaching and therapy, more people are examining their needs and life goals with a new level of honesty. They’re questioning long-held assumptions about what happiness should look like and recognising that parenthood isn’t the best route to meaning or connection for everyone.

'CBC' literally means 'childfree by choice' (Getty Stock Images)

"Women have been told for decades that they can have it all, but that’s just not true, and it’s harmful to keep perpetuating that idea. Everything has an opportunity cost."

Jessica concluded: "For many, choosing to be childfree is about building a life that reflects who they truly are, not what’s expected of them."

Expert's 2026 dating predictions

Jessica's other predictions for next year included:

• Intentional Independence: Singles will focus on emotional self-reliance and inner stability before entering relationships.
• Love by Design: Daters will create relationships that reflect their values and lifestyles, rather than following traditional norms.
• Standards Over Settling: Singles will increasingly prefer staying single to settling for 'good enough'.
• Frameworks for Connection: A rise in using structured approaches like therapy and communication tools to build healthier relationships.