The only solid reason is security where children are involved or when either dies.

Either may need to ensure mother or father is legally bound to provide for the child/children. And when death occurs, the surviving spouse has some legal means to challenge a will if nothing goes to the spouse/children. Without a marriage cert, you practically have zero entitlement even if everyone affirms that you are in a relationship with the deceased.

If marriage is not necessary, each better be damn sure to be self sufficient without relying on one another. Have your own career, your own savings, your own investments, your own home, your own car, your own retirement fund.

And don't cry if someone cheats. Not married after all. So you can just leave the cheater.

This post has been edited by McMatt: Jul 7 2025, 11:44 AM

Let me correct the stigma. I got married when my salary was barely RM3k. And we're still together 17 years later. It's not marriage that cost you money. If is family, if one chooses to start having children. Of course we're now well over 5 figure, but we have no children as we know then that we do not want the financial burden and the world simply isn't the same. There are so many more dangers lurking around the corner.

Of coz cost of living has gone up. But merely highlighting the cost isn't in marriage itself. It is in the cost of raising children if one starts a family. Because the options comes down to, do you want quality living for your child, or do you want more children with lesser quality of living (unless of course you're financially capable). My message is more for the common average joes with less than RM20k per month take home.

That's why I said at the end, for someone with a household income of under RM20k in today's era, that also requires careful consideration. My friends prioritizes quality education these days, over having more children but reduced opportunities.

Hence, before even getting married, one must know himself or herself if children is a criteria or not, and then ensuring the partner is in the same line of thoughts before popping the question. There are many who proposed only to find out later that they don't align on starting a family. I'm lucky to have found one who doesn't want kids like myself.