Economic Units of One (the challenges of living alone)

Serendipitious

Hello

I've started this thread because I cannot find anything that specifically caters for those living alone and the triumphs and challenges we face in trying to keep our personal economies in shape during these interesting times.

I don't know about anyone else, but it seems to me that when a household consists of two salary earners they do have a head start when it comes to matters of money in that there are two salaries coming in and only one set of bills.

It's not my intention to start grumbling, it's not really in my nature, but I just thought maybe we could exchange views, hints and tips on the topic of living alone in today's economic world.

If you're interested, let's talk ! :j

RAS

My beef is that when you live alone you need to complete exactly the same home management activities as a couple but with half the number of hours available; more sometimes.

If you are sorting the bills, you cannot be batch cooking or doing DIY (usually). If work is very pressured, there is no one to take up the slack at home for a bit.

Serendipitious

Very true. It does tend to make things feel all work and no play.

I've decided to move from a 3 bed to a flat or small bungalow for that reason (although I am hoping for cheaper rent also, I must admit!)

heartbreak_star

2 people do tend to make more mess than one though

HBS x

bugslet

heartbreak_star wrote: »

2 people do tend to make more mess than one though

HBS x

I'm in agreement with that one! Since Mr Bugs left home, it takes distinctly less time to do the housework and in particular the ironing!

On the other hand, I've had to deal with the quotes for new fascias and all that type of thing and indeed with two lots of money coming in, it's easier to pay for. And a house costs pretty much the same to heat with one or two people living in it.

Find_The_Real

I have actually found some of my bills to be cheaper now I am on my own as I am in control of them and I turn things off when not in use unlike my previous life where the house had every light on it seemed and the heating was on far longer than needed. I also get the council tax discount.

Housework takes very little time as there is very little mess and my food bill is not so much either. I do tend to freeze a lot more stuff now I am on my own so I can take advantage of the food on offer for larger families as sometimes you can pay a lot more for the smaller amounts needed when there is just one of you.

I think it can also depend on what type of partner you have as my ex was too tight to contribute much to the household bills anyway so I paid for most of them.

Person_one

heartbreak_star wrote: »

2 people do tend to make more mess than one though

HBS x

Oh I don't know!

My last ex was a much tidier person than I was, one of the benefits of not living with him anymore is that I can just relax in the mess.

OP, how long have you been living alone? Its three years for me now. I think the longer you do it the more you develop your own ways of doing things and the more comfortable and confident you feel about handling things solo.

That said, there are some DIY jobs where you do need two people and its very frustrating.

bugslet

The way we used to work was that I paid the mortgage and he paid the utility bills. Gas and elec bills are way lower ( our house was semi-tropical in mid-winter when he was there), but I have to pay the bills now.

I do waste less food though for reasons I don't really understand

indsty

I now live alone and find it a mixed blessing. You still need the same amount of money to heat and furnish the house/flat. However, it is much easier to cut back on expenses such as food - if I want to live cheaply and buy 1lb of mince, carrots, onions and potatoes on Monday, then I can live off that until Friday. If there was another person to consider I am sure we would be eating more complicated and expensive meals. If I want to turn the heating down and go to bed early to keep warm then I can - nobody else to consider.
On the other hand, if I want to spend on something frivolous I don't have to ask anybody else first.
I also have the remote control 100% of the time, the toilet seat is always down, and nobody else's socks are on the floor.

krustylouise

I am in a new relationship and am finding it fun but also a pain. When "he" isn't at mine DD and I are happy to eat whatever easy healthy meal is to hand, however when "he" is at mine I find myself cooking something that takes time that I simply don't have. Luckily it's my night alone tonight (me the star fishing commence!)

Serendipitious

Person_one wrote: »

Oh I don't know!

My last ex was a much tidier person than I was, one of the benefits of not living with him anymore is that I can just relax in the mess.

OP, how long have you been living alone? Its three years for me now. I think the longer you do it the more you develop your own ways of doing things and the more comfortable and confident you feel about handling things solo.

That said, there are some DIY jobs where you do need two people and its very frustrating.

10 years now... And before that I did another 10 year stint as a lone parent through divorce.

I do feel confident about doing things alone, plenty of experience, so no problem there, but I do find the solo status to be economically restrictive. If I were to meet/marry/live with anyone now, it would effectively double (or maybe even more) the household income giving much more possibilities for fun, holidays, and task sharing (to say nothing of all the stuff that can be enjoyed for free )

Point taken by a previous poster that it needs to be the right one, though.