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The Supremes once sang You cant hurry love. As it turns out, scientists have determined its not advisable to hurry marriage either. Get the scoop on the best age to be wed. We doubt you were shocked when Avril Lavigne announced she was splitting from her husband of three years. But while its tempting to assume the cause was her bratty persona or rocker lifestyle, comments from her friends suggested that something more universal was at play: She was only 21 when she tied the knot and later told pals that she realized shed been too young to make such a life-altering decision. Could fellow young celebrity divorces Reese Witherspoon, Kate Hudson, and Britney Spears have also hit the same age-related issue? The Magic Number There are practical reasons for the mid-20s dividing line, and most of them boil down to two biggies: education and money. Turns out, the more years of higher education a woman has under her belt on her wedding day, the lower the chances that shell get divorced ... and by 25, youre more likely to have earned a degree or two. Educated women tend to be more confident about who they are and less willing to settle for a man who doesnt meet their standards, explains Terri Orbuch, Ph.D., author of Five Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage From Good to Great. Odds are that by 25 youre also supporting yourself, so theres less incentive for you to rush into marriage because youre seeking financial security from him. But the marriage-related benefits of working and having money of your own go beyond feeling secure, says Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D., author of Finding Your Perfect Match. Learning to budget your cash carefully when youre single will help you avoid financial problemsone of the main causes of couple fightsfor the rest of your life. And juggling responsibilities, dealing with differing personalities, and resolving conflicts on the job force you to develop skills that are necessary for maintaining long-term love. | 
