Do other 'Singletons' find it easier or harder to become Debt Free?

debbycatz

After listening to Martin on the Jeremy Vine show yesterday and reading some posts here, I started to wonder if it is easier to become debt free if your single ?
On the one hand, if your single you have total control of your income and outgoings but the downside is you are managing with only one income and also no-one to turn to for support, motivation and guidance (which I do find invaluable on here btw )

However, I have the 'problem' of being single but having a teenage son and this really blows my budget some weeks. If I were living on my own, I feel I could shave loads off my shopping bill and electric bill etc

Anyway, just wondered what others experience has been and you all think ?

Firefly

I know just what you mean. With every light that stays on, or tv left on standby I see another penny or two on my £130 per month electricity bill. :mad:

I've got two children at home (and a third when she feels like it) but am single.

I often dream of being in a two income family; after all I've got moneysaving down to a fine art and just think of the luxury that another 20k+ could bring with it! However, I would find it very hard to not want to supervise or have control of that extra salary if it's earner wasn't MSE friendly!

Edited to add: I bet you lot think I've made a very contradictory statement saying I've got moneysaving down to a fine art with a £130pm leccy bill! I'm on economy seven, changed supplier just before the huge price increases and dear Powergen didn't up my DD so I've got arrears to pay off.

msmicawber

I found it much easier to keep debt under control when I was a true singleton as I could control myself. Now I'm the single wage earner with two children, I find it a lot harder because they've got this irritating habit of growing!

wigginsmum

I was debtfree when I was single - it was gaining an OH and two stepchildren that scuppered my finances!

cantcope

I'm a true singletong with no children. I'm sure it MUST be easier for me to clear my debts albeit slowly.
But then i ask myself the question as to whether i will ever get a prtner while i am on strict budget. Not having money to go out to meet people and if i did what would i say if i was asked on a date? "sorry, no money"??

Swings and roundabouts on this one i think

cattie1

msmicawber wrote:

I found it much easier to keep debt under control when I was a true singleton as I could control myself. Now I'm the single wage earner with two children, I find it a lot harder because they've got this irritating habit of growing!

:rotfl:

totally agree with you. when i was single (and had no children) it was much easier as i had control, now the washer is constantly on and the OH always on his playstation as well as having telly/music on!

A_Nice_Englishman

I'm single, no debts and mortgage paid off. However I haven't had those expensive things called 'children'. I bet you parents wouldn't swap!

cattie1

i think it's bcause when you are with someone you are more easily persuaded in getting things like takeaways and extra treats when shopping,-or maybe that's just me?!!:o then their is the extra mouth to feed and in my experience most men have good appetites!;)

cattie1

true nice englishman i wouldn't swap my kids to be debt free!!
well it depends on the price offered really..................................!!!!!!!!!
no, honestly i wouldn't!

judi24

I agree Englishman. As a mum of 4 kids I wouln't swop them for the world. But they are an expensive hobby! This month I have three lots of full school uniform and shoes to pay for. Aswell as feeding them and entertaining them during the Hols. I also have an OH that likes to spend money too :mad: . We are a lethal combination.
Niether of us needs much encouragement to blow the budget!
We are trying to get sorted out cos I am aware that our debt is affecting them. I certainly feel less stressed now that I can see a way out of it that doesn't involve huge loans or increases to our already huge mortgage. All down to this site and everyones great advice.;)

saubryn

I got into all my debt because of a useless partner I kept bailing out. It was easy to reduce the amount owed when I was single. Harder now I'm married, but I don't blame that on my partner, my own circumstances have changed for the worse (I might be going on the sick soon). It does seem you spend more as a couple though, I think two people can balance eachother sometimes, but othertimes they just encourage eachother to be naughty.