The Cost of Being Single (not single mums, proper single)

PasturesNew

I'm surprised nobody posted this earlier today .... I've been meaning to for the past 15 hours.

Here's a variety of links, pick your favourite:

(I hate this stupid new format that puts those boxes to the right, so there's a big white gap here!)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1296142/The-real-cost-single-Going-costs-250-000.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/7900530/Cost-of-being-single-254082.html

Having to carry the full burden of a mortgage, holiday costs, insurance premiums and utility bills all adds up, according to the study by uSwitch, the price comparison website.

According to the survey, the annual premium for being single is £4,794, which between the ages of 22 to 75 adds up to £254,082.
Even tax can be more costly, on a per-person basis, for singletons.

Although those living alone are entitled to a 25 per cent reduction on their council tax, the survey indicated that the average amount spent on council tax by a single person each month is £90. A couple spend an average of £126. This suggests the premium for single people £27 a month, or £324 a year.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, said: “Increasingly we are seeing evidence that to enjoy a good quality of life in Britain, a household needs two incomes.

“Those who live alone face a range of disadvantages including meeting household bills single handed and having to pay a surcharge on holidays.”

marklv

It's no secret that you need two incomes to live decently these days - unless one income is very high.

The_White_Horse

how is a single person worse off than a married person with two kids and a partner who does not work?

PasturesNew

The_White_Horse wrote: »

how is a single person worse off than a married person with two kids and a partner who does not work?

Tax credits, child benefits, freebies because they get those ....

I bet a family with 2 kids could find a holiday cheaper than me.... there are gazillions of BOGOF and "children get it free" offers on stuff, well, guess who pays for it .... singles.

Also, my TV license per person is £130/year ... or so. For a couple it's half that each per year. Stuff like that. One set of standing charges, whether there's one of you or a dozen (water, elecrricity, gas) ... and phone line. etc.

PasturesNew

Angelic wrote: »

My solution- single people should live togetehr when older to halve costs

Being single, we're unlikeable. That wouldn't go down well.

The_White_Horse

single people should offer their services, in a slave like manner, to the couples. they can look after the kids and pay the tv licence, happy in the knowledge it is not 130per person, but merely 26 instead.

Generali

The thing that used to annoy me most in my single days (a very long time ago now) was that if I shared a taxi with a couple, the assumption was that the cost would be split 50/50 as if they were one person.

phil_b_2

Chaos_A.D. wrote: »

Agree with you PN as far as costs go. On the other hand I like being single, most people I know who are married or in a long term relationship are miserable as sin, on top of that they are so inextricably linked with finances especially, that splitting up is a nightmare, so they just plod along each day.

Bottom line is 40% of marriages don't make it, out of the other 60% how many have had affairs ?, how many are unhappy ?, how many wished they were single again but are or feel trapped ?

I'd hazard a guess that deep down less than 25% of people in a long term relationship end up making it to old age happy. Those odds are crap.

It might be more expensive to be single, but I'd sooner my happiness be based on what I make of life, not what someone else does.

Thems the words of someone who hasn't been In a proper relationship (not a decent one anyway). Being in a good relationship beats the hell out of being single every day of the week. The fact it's enabled me to own a nice house by halving lifes costs is a bonus.

Chin up, you'll find the right girl/boy.

dopester

phil_b wrote: »

Thems the words of someone who hasn't been In a proper relationship (not a decent one anyway). Being in a good relationship beats the hell out of being single every day of the week. The fact it's enabled me to own a nice house by halving lifes costs is a bonus.

Chin up, you'll find the right girl/boy.

From some older posts I seem to recall, Chaos A.D. has previously been married.

lilac_lady

I'm single after many years of marriage (my choice). It's definitely harder financially but I wouldn't swap back to being part of an unhappy couple.

I have to fund everything myself including house and car repairs so have to watch my spending so that I remain independent. I'm fed up with people who assume I've got plenty of money just because I don't have any debt.

There's no concessions that apply to single people other than the afore mentioned 25% council tax rduction as far as I'm aware.

It must be really hard to be single and unemployed.

silvercar

According to the survey, the annual premium for being single is £4,794, which between the ages of 22 to 75 adds up to £254,082.

Being only single from the age of 22 to 75 is sad in itself. I would also reckon that it is extremely unlikely that one person never lives as a couple (or group) for the whole of their life.