Would You Get Married For Convenience?

February 25, 2010

Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey have dated for five years, but don't bet on seeing them take a walk down the aisle. Jenny says that tax incentives are the only reason they'd ever gamble on marriage. Let's add "tax breaks" to our list of convenient reasons people get married. Our list already includes the obvious green-card motivation, as well as reasons like homosexuality cover-ups and celebrity power plays.

When a couple feels like they don't need the traditional institution to validate a commitment maybe convenience is the best reason to get married. Would you do it?

Source: Getty

29 Comments

trinitycc 2 years 18 weeks

Lived together for 7 years before marrying; decided to get married when we wanted to buy a house. Hanging in there now, it will be 22 years together in 2011. We're staying together because there's a lot of years invested.

3 years 2 days

I bet those that said no are not married. I'm just saying.

3 years 3 weeks

Yes! I was never one of those twenty-something girls desperate to get married. If I found the "right" guy, I would have been okay being in a committed relationship without papers for the rest of my life. Luckily, I did find the "right" guy and it just so happened that he is a citizen of the EU while I am a citizen of the USA. Therefore, on some level we did get married for convenience. However, it doesn't mean that love wasn't a part of it too. If there was no love, friendship and mutual respect, the marriage wouldn't have been a consideration for either of us. I think a better question is would you get married without being in love with your partner.

tlsgirl 3 years 11 weeks

I should say I've been with my person for almost seven years, so it's not like I'd find some random off the street and be all "you have coverage? Let's get hitched."

tlsgirl 3 years 11 weeks

If one of us got health insurance we would get married, otherwise I have little desire to.

postmodernsleaze 3 years 11 weeks

SKG, here's a link to Jenny McCarthy blabbing her dumb mouth about autism: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/02/mccarthy.autsimtreatment/index.html I guess I incorrectly used the word "cure" for she has not helped "cure" her son, but has helped him "recover" from autism. What a load. That's one celebrity mouth I'd really like to put a piece of tape over.

postmodernsleaze 3 years 11 weeks

SKG, here's a link to Jenny McCarthy blabbing her dumb mouth about autism:http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/02/mccarthy.autsimtreatment/index.htmlI guess I incorrectly used the word "cure" for she has not helped "cure" her son, but has helped him "recover" from autism. What a load. That's one celebrity mouth I'd really like to put a piece of tape over.

3 years 12 weeks

I'm not interested in being married, so I'd probably *only* do it for convenience.

Jmartens 3 years 12 weeks

I didn't think there really were any tax advantages for married people anyway.

inlove23 3 years 12 weeks

A lot of military people get married for convenience. But, luckily I don't have to deal with that and I plan on marrying my boyfriend because of pure love =)

totygoliguez 3 years 12 weeks

I'm not going to lie, I would get marry for convenience, obviously I have to love the guy and have a steady relationship with him. I don't really believe you need a piece of paper to prove your commitment to a person. But lets be honest, marriage does have great benefits and it is a way to protect yourself in case things don't work out or one of you dies.

xgreenfairyx 3 years 12 weeks

Um, both of these people are rich. Do you really believe they need a 'tax break'? She was clearly being facetious.

PinkNC 3 years 12 weeks

No way, I wouldn't do it.

PinkNC 3 years 12 weeks

No way, I wouldn't do it.

limelindsey 3 years 12 weeks

I don't think I would, but I knew a couple when I first started college who had married each other right out of high school...they did it for financial aid for school! Seriously! They said they knew they'd get married anyway, why not now and save some money.

starbucks 3 years 12 weeks

We've been together for quite some time and have a child together. We live together just like a married couple would. We can't get married right now, because I receive a pension that would stop if I was married. When I turn 27 it automatically ends and that's when we'll get married for the tax breaks. So maybe it's more like not marrying for convenience for us...

a1stbornunicorn 3 years 12 weeks

danakskully64 brought up the point I was going to suggest you add to the list, Tres. Health insurance! My boyfriend has cadillac health coverage at his job and he gets it all for FREE. I shell out hard-earned dough for merely adequate insurance. Not that I'd marry him just for that, love would be first and foremost.

AlexisSF 3 years 12 weeks

for me, marriage is forever so no, i wouldn't marry for convenience; only for love.

spacekatgal 3 years 12 weeks

She claims she cured him? Oh please. Do you have a link? Her Wii game sucks - like embarrassingly so. She was very funny in C&C RA3, so I'll give her a break.

spacekatgal 3 years 12 weeks

She claims she cured him? Oh please. Do you have a link? Her Wii game sucks - like embarrassingly so. She was very funny in C&C RA3, so I'll give her a break.

postmodernsleaze 3 years 12 weeks

This doesn't exactly have to do with marriages of convenience, but I think it's a lot easier for celebrity couples to diss on marriage because both parties are so wealthy. When you're dealing with real people, marriage is a security. I mean, if Brad Pitt died tomorrow, Angelina Jolie would have no problem being able to take care of her and her kids. It's not like that for most other people.And SKG... she doesn't have a special needs child. She cured him, remember!? ::eye roll::Jenny McCarthy is a numbskull.

postmodernsleaze 3 years 12 weeks

This doesn't exactly have to do with marriages of convenience, but I think it's a lot easier for celebrity couples to diss on marriage because both parties are so wealthy. When you're dealing with real people, marriage is a security. I mean, if Brad Pitt died tomorrow, Angelina Jolie would have no problem being able to take care of her and her kids. It's not like that for most other people. And SKG... she doesn't have a special needs child. She cured him, remember!? ::eye roll:: Jenny McCarthy is a numbskull.

Talldiva45 3 years 12 weeks

Hell no! I have seen how that works out - IT DOESN'T. My aunt did this twice and the whole family knew...it was just obvious. Hence, she has been divorced twice - really how convenient is that? - Esp. when there are children involved. Makes me sad but it was her decision. In my family of women I have yet to grow up witnessing a successful marriage which scares me (incl. that of my parents). *I just hope that my sister and I can break the cycle...

boredgourdless 3 years 12 weeks

I clicked yes, but then thought some more. I got married out of necessity, more than convenience. At least, my first (civil) wedding was of necessity as my grace-period for being in Europe was fast ending. Though we were already engaged, so running down to the courthouse to get hitched wasn't exactly a "what the hell" kind of thing. The family, flowers, etc, wedding was over six months later.

danakscully64 3 years 12 weeks

I thought for a while before I chose my answer. I said Yes. The point I'm at right now in my relationship, it really is marrying for convenience. We've been together for over 5 years and live just like a married couple. If we got married, I would get health care, my guy and I could live together on base if we ever needed to, we would get more money from the government, I would have say if something bad happened to him (car accident and he was on life support), etc. At least these are just the ones I've come up with because obviously my guy doesn't think Love is a good enough reason to get married, I've been waiting more than 5 years for a ring.

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29 Comments

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