Love doesn't put food on the table

Our President recently expressed his frustration with young people. He said, "For some reason, young people are not getting married. Men are having trouble with women, and women are having trouble with men when it comes to marriage. We say, 'Let us mediate,' but unfortunately, we cannot get the women to like the men, or the men to like the women."

In this country, neither the women have a problem with the men, nor the men with the women.

The problem is the inability to leave the parents' home and build a new life.

We have managed to become number one in Europe in terms of youth unemployment.

One in every four young people is idle.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) published a report last week. We are once again the leader in a study that reveals the proportion of young people who are not in education or employment worldwide.

These young people, referred to as "NEET" (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), are neither studying nor working. They are just sitting at home.

Turkey is the second country in the world after South Africa in terms of the "NEET" rate (30 percent).

Now, let's look at the cost of setting up a modest home in 2024;

According to our traditions, the expenses for the engagement ceremony to be held at home; (men's suit, engagement dress, parents' outfits, solitaire ring, engagement ring, refreshments for guests, engagement flowers, engagement cake, engagement gifts, photographer, jewelry) require an expenditure of approximately 250,000 TL if the engagement is held at home under modest conditions.

We handled the proposal and engagement together, and we skipped the henna night. Now we come to the wedding:)

According to data from the Istanbul Planning Agency, the cost of setting up a new home and having a wedding in a hall in 2024 increased by 60.4% compared to 2023, reaching 589,405 TL. The cost of getting married with an outdoor wedding was calculated as 754,405 TL, an increase of 62.6%.

The cost of renting a hall for the wedding increased by 106% to 70,000 TL, while the cost of renting an outdoor wedding venue increased by 56.7% to 235,000 TL.

Appliance expenses rose by 67% to 105,700 TL.

Furniture expenses increased by 69.9% to 147,875 TL.

The cost of renting a house in Istanbul, including real estate fees and a deposit, rose by 52.1% to 96,424 TL.

All other dowry shopping expenses increased by 68.7% to 170,099 TL.

Jewelry and honeymoon expenses are not included in all these costs.

Rising gold prices deal a second blow to young couples who think they can cover wedding expenses with the jewelry and money gifted at the wedding. While it used to be considered shameful to give a quarter gold coin at weddings, guests are now avoiding weddings by making up excuses because they cannot even afford to buy a quarter gold coin.

Money flying through the air is now only seen at wealthy weddings.

The cost of setting up a modest home without a honeymoon and luxury expenses is approaching 1 million liras in 2024.

In other words, under these circumstances and conditions, love does not put food on the table!