Single? How to money save as a singleton? 17 April 2014 at 1:50PM in Over 50s MoneySaving 42 replies 11.2K views

PennyForThem_2

I was widowed - so I am single and I like being single but a lot of the offers etc are about couples?

What strategies do those out there that are single do to take advantage or circumvent the world view that everybody is a 'couple'.

Farway

For packets of fresh food, like fish cakes etc, I use one & freeze one

often though I just leave them on the shelf and do not buy

SailorSam

According to statistics going back 30/40yrs or more there are more single households, but it is still a 'couples world'.
There's probably less of a stigma if a man or woman have been married and now divorced or widowed, but you are expected to be part of a pair. The alientation of singles is often said to be a reason why they are more susceptible to depression; illness, and even an earlier death.

Katiehound

Keep fruit & veg in Stayfresh bags in the fridge. They really do make things last longer as they absorb moisture to prevent rotting. Lakeland sell them but I managed to get a supply of cheaper ones some years ago, working my way thro them now!

Buy fish & meat in the 3 for £10 deal and freeze the portions individually

Going out restaurant deals 'though are certainly for a twosome- 2 meals for £10 etc. There's no way round that!

SailorSam

Katiehound wrote: »

Going out restaurant deals 'though are certainly for a twosome- 2 meals for £10 etc. There's no way round that!

Unless of course you were to take some doggie bags.

Katiehound

Or unless you decide to eat both meals!! (there and then!!)
The last time I saw this deal some of the single meals were only about £1 cheaper than the two together... penalising singles as usual! I mean one meal for £9 and 2 for £10 (exactly the same size portion etc)

zygurat789

Farway wrote: »

For packets of fresh food, like fish cakes etc, I use one & freeze one

often though I just leave them on the shelf and do not buy

Back to basics is, to my mind, a good strategy for moneysaving.
I wouldn't consider fish cakes as fresh food. Fresh food would be fish and make your own fish cakes. A freezer is also basic.

PennyForThem_2

Food is not a problem - I cook from scratch and have a large freezer. I buy yellow sticker and, as got Waitrose, Morrisons, Sainsbury, Tesco, Lidl and Aldi all within 3 miles of my house I am not loyal!

It is the 'couples' world. SailorSam gave the best reply

Katiehound

Didn't realise it was a quiz for the best reply!!

Sadly most offers are 2 for 1, think Orange Wednesdays.... but in that case you just need to cultivate friends to go along and split the cost between you.

I can tell you that not everybody is a couple! Why are there companies specialising in singles holidays or Saga where they go out of their way to advertise "rooms at no single supplement"?

scotsbob

Katiehound wrote: »

Going out restaurant deals 'though are certainly for a twosome- 2 meals for £10 etc. There's no way round that!

Eat one then tell them you are full up and will be back tomorrow for the second one.

moneyistooshorttomention

SailorSam wrote: »

The alientation of singles is often said to be a reason why they are more susceptible to depression; illness, and even an earlier death.

I hadn't really thought of it like that, but will certainly mull on that thought.

It suits society as a whole for people to be "coupled up". Less use of resources basically I guess at one level.

Personally, I do have suspicions sometimes that many people "compromise" and get together with or stay with someone they wouldn't really if they were being choosier.

I'd rather be choosy and never find someone to be with, than compromise. I recall one friend who advocated I should do so and told me most people do and I saw who his latest partner was and thought "You telling me you have compromised....whew!".

Think of yourself as "discriminating" (as in exercising discrimination, rather than being a discriminator, iyswim) and that's half the battle imo. Actually, a study was done the other day of the lifestyles of "great thinkers" of the past. There were several things that struck me very forcibly. The first one was that the vast majority of them were men (womens biology and/or need to have a supportive income I suppose telling there). But...yes...one point that hadn't occurred to me and I guess its that most of them were either single or living an "independent" lifestyle iyswim. Some married men qualified because of having supportive wives (wonder how they would have done if they hadn't?). Hm....

Tell yourself you have the time/emotional energy/etc to be a "great thinker" should you choose to...