Single people living alone - how do you do it?

crafty*kate

Living alone is great

Renting with cats can be done - just ask. A lot of places say 'no pets' without really thinking, but will often consider a cat if you ask nicely.

I rent a small 2-bed house on my own, 550pm. Council tax is 85 with the discount. Currently I pay 70pm for gas and electric, but I'm hoping that will go down as I've just had my first quarter's bill. For some reason that was the lowest they would let me set the direct debits.

The only other thing is a landline so you can get internet at home if you want to - I pay £24pm for line, calls and internet with Plusnet.

It is sometimes a struggle, but the benefits of living on my own outweigh anything else. I know that if I lived with my parents I could save a massive amount of money, but like you, it would mean going back to where I was before I split with my ex. The independence is worth it!

alan17

flutterbyuk25 wrote: »

I live on my own in a 2 bed flat, per month I pay:

£400 rent (inc water)
£40 electric (all electric flat)
£85 council tax
£15 broadband
£13 tv licence

I spend £60-£80 on food a month and £50 on petrol a month. And I save £100 a month for my hols at end of year.

I'm left with around £200 a month for spends then. This is spent on socialising, magazines, clothes etc - the non essentials.


x

Some good advice around here!

I was in a similar position some time back, the main thing is you are budgeting properly already! thats part of it you have sorted.

My 2 bed flat, living alone is similar cost to above
£345 rent
£74 Council tax
£66 Electricity and Gas
£28 Water
£13 tv license
£10.21 mobile (100 mins, unlimited txts 500mb BB)
£18 Broadband/tv/phone

The main thing I would advise is, when looking for places enquire if they have water meters and would you be allowed one.

Ask about energy firms, I got stuck with an expensive firm as the landlord owns a lot of the flats and likes to keep everyone on the same one, so my gas/electric is ££££.

Work out a food budget by going on the food part of the forum.
My food budget is 80ppm, trying to reduce it.

The holiday thing is understandable, perhaps check when your mobile contracts up or try haggle for cheaper.

Other than that, how do you commute to work, will it be cheaper by car? Does your work do any transport schemes?
I recently changed job and it was going to be around £100 per month for parking alone ! So got a corporate metro pass, consequently spend less on petrol as its just a weekend thing.