The U.S. Census collected data on childless American adults over age 55 in 2018, and found that 32.1% of those surveyed had never been married, as compared to just 2.6% of parents. That's a pretty startling statistic, and it might give you pause if you've ever heard the line, "But who will take care of you when you're old?" in reference to being Childfree. Of course, if having kids was an assurance of having someone to care for you in old age, there would be no parents in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, and we know that isn't the case. Your finances are different if you're Childfree and single, however. You only need to worry about yourself, but that can be a double-edged sword. Let's take a look at some of the considerations that should be on your financial radar.

You've crunched the numbers and taken a long hard look at your budget and lifestyle, and owning a primary residence just isn't for you. And this is perfectly okay! Childfree and permanently childless people can forge their own paths and avoid that pesky life script, and for some, it likely means that homeownership isn't the right choice. If you opt to stay a renter, you'll need to plan for rent increases over time, but this can be done.

If you're carrying debt and can't see a way out, you might be considering trying to negotiate your debt. If you're successful, you may be able to settle your debt for less than you owe. And while you may end up with a black mark on your credit, it will certainly be less damaging than if you declared bankruptcy.

When you think about retirement, you likely imagine it in a more traditional sense. You're likely older than you are now, and you stop working altogether and live off your savings, investments, and Social Security. But what if traditional retirement doesn't hold much interest for you? There's an option for you. Let's take a look at a term coined by Dr. Jay after he discovered through research that many Childfree people don't want to retire: FILE.

Spend any time in the personal finance space and you might hear the term FIRE to describe a way of life that some people are pursuing. What is FIRE, and is it something you should pursue? Let's take a look.

If you're deep in the throes of your working years, you might be wondering how to tell when it's time to retire. How do you know you're ready, financially and otherwise? Let's look at what to consider when deciding.

We've mentioned the "die with zero" approach several times here, and now it's time to discuss it in greater detail. Let's take a look at why you might want to consider this strategy when it comes to planning your Childfree finances.