"living your life" before getting married?

Perhaps it is the fear of commitment our society seems to propagate 24/7. All anyone wants to do is "tap" that and move onto the next "thang" to be "tapped." The facts are in your favor. Married couples live longer, earn more money as a team, accomplish goals faster, even score higher on happiness tests. People don't think getting married is worth it or worth working to keep. People are idiots.

Age has nothing to do with it. Education does not.

If you are both mature - not into drinking and partying with the opposite sex, cheating, lying or flirting, then I am sure it will work, regardless of how old you are.

But trust me - you have some lines crossed. Marriage does change some things. For example, is it appropriate for my husband to 'leave me home' and go out with friends? how often? in the company of single women? Where do you draw the line? Because at your age, you seem to understand nothing about a secure committed relationship: those things DONT happen.

You cannot be wondering where your husband is at 2am with 'the boys' after you marry. He made a choice to choose you over EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE.

Education has nothing to do with it. The problem people have with college and marriage is the t*tty parties with naked, passed out women.

You'll understand when you get a bit older and get MARRIED.

Hey i am married to a marine too. we got married when i was 18 and he was 19 and we both have been married for two years this February. hes been to iraq last year but it didn't change him he is still the same since i am a reserve in the marines i kind of have military background too and understand the stuff he goes trough. Its not easy being married this young because every girl my age i meet wants to go clubbing and have sex with random guys and i dont want to do that cause i deeply love and respect my hubby. My husband is the first guy that i have ever been with not entirely because i am a good girl but because during high school i was in a relationship with a girl. we both did not date a million people or have sex with a million people before marrying each other but we are ok with that because we keep it fresh by having sex with provocative clothes and just doing spontaneous stuff you dont necessarily have to be at the club on the weekends to have fun. But we are all different so it depends on what you two like doing for fun

Do some research. Find people who have gotten married at a young age. Ask them about their experience. Are they still married? Are they happy? Do they have any regrets? Was it just like they expected it to be or not? What was the toughest thing about it? What fears did they have or fears from others? How did those fears impact them and their relationship? Did any of those fears turn out to be nothing? Was there anything they weren't prepared for and wish they had been?

Ask questions from those who have been there and get more than one view.

Marriage is not an instant off switch to pursuing other endeavors. It does, however, complicate things.

Post-high school education: unless you want to make minimum wage the rest of your life, you'll need some type of training beyond high school - not necessarily college - but vocational school, etc. Yes, you can pursue this while you are married, but part of the experience of this is meeting other people, making friendships, getting involved in clubs or sports while you're there, etc. The time that your spouse will want to spend with you - and your child if you get pregnant unexpectedly - will be greatly limited if you are married. Also, the financial piece of it is a factor - married couples NEED privacy away from their parents, living at home isn't an option (unless you want to be intimate under the same roof as your parents), so you may not be able to pay for school... another reason to wait to get married until after you finish your education.

As for travel, I'm not sure why that wouldn't be an option... I think maybe people are referring to trips with just your friends?

The human brain doesn't grow to its full size until age 24, so think about how that affects your ability to make decisions.... meaning that, in order to make your best life decision - on when to wed, and who to wed, and how to live with somebody.... wait until you're 24. Or later.

Because when you are young, you don't even know yourself because you are still growing as a person.

I do believe marriage can sometimes get in the way of education.

It really is better to just be "established" (education out of the way) because that time you spend schooling factors into what I first said, you are still growing as a person.

You are not the same person going into education as when you come out of education.

How many people start as one major, then switch? Wait, I thought you KNEW what you wanted??? Marriage is the same way....you need to really know you are at a point in your life where you have been there, done that and are ready to settle down!

Im in complete agreement. Someone said this to me recently, that its better to get education done with then get married, nonsense. The majority of students are already in relationships and quite often serious ones, how is it much different form marriage. Yes you probably wouldnt live together in your own house but you would have a companion to complete your studies with. Someone to grow with. If I do meet that man whilst studying and he asks, I know what my answer will be!

What really puts your life on hold is having children. You have to put their needs first so it is not a good idea to try and get a university degree while you have small kids but it can be done. You are just making life a lot harder for yourself. Way better to be finished with your education before kids come along.

i lived 30 years before i was married when i was 18 i didnt need to live anymore i was a drug dealer since i was 12 drining everyday and smoking weed every day all day long so when i got married i was ready to settle down and had lived my life now for some others like my second wife she needed to live and still does some times. but i am teaching her through my mistakes in life how life lived in bad ways is still bad drinking and smoking gets u no where along with other people around u.

when your married you can't f other people and you can't be unfaithful .you have to be there when that person needs you it's a huge commitment . you are sharing your lives as one so you have to take into consideration the thoughts and feelings of your spouse. you are a team now.