You're 38 bro give up on kids. That ship has sailed.
Can't tell if this post is a joke. I guess if you're speaking about dating for the average 38 year old who has a dad bod, makes average money, is balding, single, and has no game.. ok. But if he's got a spouse, why would it be bad to have kids at that age?
Aristotle said it 2300 years ago ... ideal age for a man to get married is when he's about 37 with a woman who's about 18. Nowadays you see guys like Arnold, Stallone, Statham who became fathers at 40+. IMO that makes the most sense, logically and evolutionary speaking.
To me, there are two extremes when it comes to kids.
1) Have them young, at say 25 and another at 28. By the time you're 46, your kids will be gone to college and that's it, empty nest. Not only that, but you've spent your most youthful years child raising, and those years are spent most likely struggling to make ends meet, with jobs that make it difficult to spend time with your kids. What else is left for your life after 46 when your kids are gone? Most couples struggle to find things to do with their time.
2) Have them late, say at 35 and 38. When you're 56, your kids will be gone. If you were smart about your finances, you'd be retired. You'll have built up to a great career and have a nest egg by 35, so money for raising your kids will never be a problem. Because you've risen to a higher level in your career, your workload will be less, affording you more time to spend with your kids. Since you had your kids at your prime, you will have enjoyed your youth to the fullest.
The only advantage to having kids young is that you might be in better shape to spend time with your grandkids, if that matters a lot to you. Other than that, I see no upside.
Of course I am in the second category so maybe there is confirmation bias. But from a logical perspective, to me it makes sense even if I was young.
Depends, a guy in his early to mid 30s who took care of himself and is in shape could still realistically date a woman that is 25+. I honestly believe that is one of the biggest factors right there and is something that a man can realistically work on. Telling a man to use rich man game is not one of them lol. I think it definitely starts changing though as you get into your mid 30s and closing in on 40. Sure, you could still be in really good shape, the problem is that women that are still within a realistic dating age range for you will NOT be single. Even at 35-40, a guy that is in shape could realistically date a woman that is 27-30. Women is this range have long been locked into a long term relationship. It's not impossible at all and I don't think any man in this age range of 35+ should feel this way, the numbers just aren't on his side.
I think the worst thing for men in this age range is basically just letting themselves go. I've noticed over the years that there are tons of guys at the gym in their late teens up to about 25 or so. However, I've found that fit men at close to 30 and beyond are far more the exception than the norm.
The key for mid 30s men is to be vigilant with their looks and max out in their career. That's a mans' peak, IMO.
I have experienced these feelings since I turned 35.
It's not easy to get a 27-30 year old while between 35-40 years old. I only knew one 35-40 year old who got a woman between 27-30, and he got her on the strength of his social circle from living in the same city his whole life and having a good beta provider job. If he were a beta provider without a social network, he would have only gotten a woman close to his own age with some sort of baggage.
Men in their mid-30s and up using swipe apps are typically only going to get mutual matches from complete leftovers close to their own age. They might be charismatic enough to do a little bit better with in-person approaching of strangers, but that's a difficult path. Most men from their mid-30s to mid-40s have social networks of mostly couples, because their male friends are mainly paired off at this point, or they have a newly divorced guy as a friend. In other words, he lacks social circle options.
I think a $200k annual salary with a decent net worth would be enough for rich man game. It would also help having height and hair too. $200k annual salary, 6'0"+, and a full hairline would do well according to
@Mike32ct and his "Height, Hair, Money" idea. Even with inflation, most men aren't making $200k. Even a 40 year old man making $130k doesn't see a lot of demand, despite being better than average.
Yes, apps are harder in mid 30s. Women have filters because realistically, the stereotype is true that the vast vast majority of men let themselves go in their 30s, not to mention their mid to late 30s. Men who don't fit the mold at that age are unicorns.
I will end the post with this - all the best looking male actors (Don Draper in Mad Men, Brad Pitt in Fight Club, Christian Bale in Dark Knight, Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool, etc) were all in their mid to late 30s. Tell me that without their fame, a woman would reject them if they approached her and she found out their age. I find it hard to believe. I guess the equation is the older you are, the more you must have to offer in order to date younger women.
and minimum X amount of money to get a quality girl. Real life is much more complex and nuanced than that.
