Here are some options that I want to make sure you're aware of for birth control that, due to cultural reasons, don't tend to be that popular in North America (although they are widely used in the rest of the world).
The first question you need to ask is do you ever want kids? If it is a no, vasectomy for the guy works. On the female side of things you can get your tubes tied as well. In both cases of cutting and tying things they are fairly effective, but there are more effective methods out there. A friend recently had an "Essure" implanted. It is a metal coil that basically blocks the Fallopian tubes. Statistically it is more effective than any other method out there and it is VERY permanent. So don't get it unless you never want kids.
The best practical method for birth control (not STI prevention) is the IUD (intrauterine device). These have advanced significantly since the days of old (70s), when they were less than perfect. Now there are two options in this category. One is a copper IUD. It works well, can be implanted and removed easily and is fairly inexpensive. The downside is that with some women you will bleed more heavily due to how it works. The other option (and personal fav) is Mirena. It is a chemically tipped plastic IUD. This worked well for my wife since the hormones act locally only (uterus), and do not go elsewhere in the body causing many of the side effects that are common with the pill, depo, etc. Like its copper sister it is easily implanted and removed but also has the advantage of preventing or heavily reducing bleeding (this is great if you suffer from anemia). In both cases once the IUD is removed, fertility is restored instantly (the pill can take upwards of a year to fully purge its effects from the body). Both IUD types have a lifespan of "5 years" (although there is a 3 year Mirena as well), although they don't immediately lose effectiveness the day they expire, but slowly decrease afterwards. Both of these will cost a bit up front, typically around 1 year of birth control pills.
Anyways, some food for thought.