Single Money Saver living on my own

doinwell

Hi every1

I've been using this site for about 2/3 years now. I have been able to get more financially savvy and have been switching utility companies, obtaining relevant credit cards, bank a/cs etc, etc. The wealth of information is fantastic. I've never contributed to the boards over that time, however I do feel compelled to contribute 2 this one as there doesn't seem 2 b much for us singletons out there!!

My question is - how does one get a perfectly good holiday for 1?? I've got brochures from explore and just you etc, but the prices are quite expensive (by the time u've added the huge single person's supplement!! - it's cheaper if u and some1 else goes!!) - how can that be? does/has any1 been holidaying alone?

Using the MSE website shows how u can get some really cheap flights but 2 get cheap accommodation the best thing is a hostel it seems (i don't want to stay in one of those). I've noticed that u can book excursions on expedia, lastminute etc but even that starts 2 tot up quite abit.

Why is being single SO expensive? ure thoughts/ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

On the food front, I don't like to eat the same food 2 days running. I used to do the batch cooking and freezing thing, but getting older affects your taste buds I think, so I don't do this anymore - as much as poss, I try to do fresh cooking. Prepping the food helps to cut time down. If I haven't brought anything in, I've found that Tesco at lunch times (maybe all supermarkets do this) has a reduced section, and u can get some quite good lunches at reduced price. In the afternoon also is another good time to get reduced items in the supermarket. I agree with one 'ali1972' in that buying a small portion of meat, fish etc is SO much cheaper than the pre-packaged items.

Well, I've banged on enuff now, I'll let some1 else get in there!

Annashine

Hi Tink

I've been single now for a while and know the problem ... obviously budgeting helps but I found looking at the whole nutrition aspect quite interesting. The cookbook that I would recommend for anyone who wants to eat well on a low budget is the 'More for Less' Cookbook published by the Mennonite Central Committee. (It is an American one that I picked on while on holiday in Canada but I think you can get it from Amazon.)

Have fun cooking!

Annashine

lilac_lady

It is so expensive living on your own. Now that gas and electriciy prices are rising so fast, it'll be even worse. When I listen to co-workers with partners moaning on about how little money they have I have to stop myself from saying "try living on a single (not high) wage." The funny thing is,they're always spending what they haven't got. I've no debt or mortgage payments, I've paid for any holidays without using credit unlike them. They tell me how "lucky" I am not to be in debt. It's not luck, it's common sense. Before someone says that I've had it too easy, I started again after a divorce in later life (No savings at all - had to take out a loan) but made it my mission to work hard to be debt free like the MSE-ers here are doing now.

skintlass

doinwell wrote: »

Hi every1

I've been using this site for about 2/3 years now. I have been able to get more financially savvy and have been switching utility companies, obtaining relevant credit cards, bank a/cs etc, etc. The wealth of information is fantastic. I've never contributed to the boards over that time, however I do feel compelled to contribute 2 this one as there doesn't seem 2 b much for us singletons out there!!

My question is - how does one get a perfectly good holiday for 1?? I've got brochures from explore and just you etc, but the prices are quite expensive (by the time u've added the huge single person's supplement!! - it's cheaper if u and some1 else goes!!) - how can that be? does/has any1 been holidaying alone?

Using the MSE website shows how u can get some really cheap flights but 2 get cheap accommodation the best thing is a hostel it seems (i don't want to stay in one of those). I've noticed that u can book excursions on expedia, lastminute etc but even that starts 2 tot up quite abit.

Why is being single SO expensive? ure thoughts/ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I found a holiday that was listed as a singles week and was actually cheaper than the normal week but it was a riding holiday so unless you're into horseriding no good for you.

ceridwen

lilac_lady wrote: »

It is so expensive living on your own. Now that gas and electriciy prices are rising so fast, it'll be even worse. When I listen to co-workers with partners moaning on about how little money they have I have to stop myself from saying "try living on a single (not high) wage." .

<groans - "TELL me about it"> I do get SO fed-up (well - that was the polite word for it!) hearing the "smug marrieds" so totally oblivious to the extra cost of being single - and it IS large. Extra Council Tax, extra bills generally, extra food costs, extra holiday costs etc etc. I think the trouble is many married/living together people have never been single (ie living on their own) for very long - if at all - and I try to be charitable and remind myself of this when they ignore all the extra costs involved in being single (because these costs are very large - as I know from experience). I DO feel SO tempted often to turn round and say "Well - I cant magic Mr Right out of thin air". I wish I could - but if you dont meet Mr/Miss Right then you dont and theres nothing you can do about it. If it dont happen - it dont happen - end of story. I just have to grit my teeth and walk off reminding myself that many people marry/live with someone they know very well (in their heart of hearts) isnt "the one" for them and at least I havent done that and I'm not one of the 50% odd apparently that would leave their marriage tomorrow if they werent too worried about being worse off to do so - and, yes, I DO appreciate how difficult it must be to do so in those circumstances. I'm just so glad I held out for Mr Right (even though I never did meet him) - at least I'm not in the wrong 50% now.

ali1972

doinwell wrote: »

My question is - how does one get a perfectly good holiday for 1?? I've got brochures from explore and just you etc, but the prices are quite expensive (by the time u've added the huge single person's supplement!! - it's cheaper if u and some1 else goes!!) - how can that be? does/has any1 been holidaying alone?

I suppose it depends on the types of holiday you are after, but I've had some fabulous walking holidays in the Swiss Alps in the summer months, because there are a lot of "no single supplement" deals - basically the resorts are ski resorts in the winter (and so are expensive then) but are low season in the summer (and are much cheaper then). I suits me, certainly. I've had some great deals from Kuoni, who are usually a more expensive option, but their Swiss brochure has a lot of deals in it in the summer.

Austin_Allegro

Holidays can be tricky. It can be a bit lonely going on your own, so here are some things I've done:

1. Get other single friends involved. This does take a bit of planning/cajoling, but financially you can't beat it.

2. Do a trip round the UK staying a couple of days at various friends/relations. You only have transport costs and nobody has to put up with you for more than a couple of days. Make sure you invite them to yours to reciprocate.

3. Go on a group/singles holiday - there are lots of these about covering all ages and types of activity. You always meet one or two people you get on with.

4. Go on a working holiday. These can be, for example, doing work for the National Trust or even volunteer work in Africa. You'll be in a group of like minded people. You pay your passage but usually get free board and lodging. You generally only work about four or five hours a day, though check beforehand.

Stephen_Leak

I am lucky to still be at the stage where single holidays are still an opportunity to go to places and do things, that only I would be interested in and therefore never got a chance to do, when on holiday together: air shows, preserved railways, industrial archeology. If I get my Sun holiday this year, some of my locations are close to Bovington tank museum. One plan for the future is to go to North Wales and "do" all of the little narrow guage railways.

Jake'sGran

JaySL wrote: »

Hi! There is a variation to the above recipe. I know it is adding on to the 'minimalist' approach but it might add variety/ veg to a very good basic dish as above....

Re garlic - i use garlic flakes bought from the market (quite cheap for a big bag and keeps well). you could just soak in hot water while u wait for the frying pan to warm up.

Re chilli - i tend to use the dry chilli and garlic with grinder (BTW, found this in the 99p shop) and just add to the dish at the end, quick toss and serve.

The original recipe does use white wine, which you could add in after frying the garlic

The only time I ever fried garlic it was horrible so now I bash a clove and let it be in the sauce and then everything tastes very garlicy. I've started growing chillies for my son who lives alone but he said it was a bit mild so this year it will be grown from seeds I acquired on another site and which are rated very hot. What I am supposed to be telling you is, that chillies are easy to grow. You could have the plant growing in, say, an 8" plant pot on the window sill. They are really really good for you..... but watch that heat!!

Tindella_2

Hi - sorry I didn't get back before - up to my eyeballs in OU assignment. Have rechecked my book - and it isn't a bread recipe - sorry - it's making garlic bread in the SC with existing bread! Oops!

However, have researched by way of compensation and here is a link

http://crockpot.cdkitchen.com/recipes/cat/2/0.shtml

which may be helpful.

Still wouldn't be without my SC! Good luck - let me know what the bread turns out like, and I'll have a go myself - when I've got this bl**dy assignment in!