Do couples pay the price for being in a relationship?

Caterina

It depends entirely on who is in a couple I think. See the Frugalwoods blog, as a couple they save 77% of their joint income and they are near their ideal of getting a Vermont homestead and retire, financially secure, age 33.

On the other extreme are those couples that appear on TV shows for spendthrifts LOL.

I am naturally thrifty but whn I met DH he did not think about saving at all, youngish professional with his own flat etc. travelling and spending as he saw fit, not a care in the world. Then we were a couple, then twin babies came, then recession and redundancy, all these factors, coupled with my persistence in gently coaching him in the ways of thrift, have turned him into a fairly frugal person.

Where we stand now I am certain it's a lot cheaper to live together, because our spending habits are fairly aligned. But 30 years ago I could have happily lived like an ant, on crumbs. He could not, so the first few years of coupledom were probably more expensive.

HappyMJ

Yes it costs more to be in a couple but you're now supporting 2 people. If all it costs is £2,340 more per year to have a stay at home partner doing some of the housework (hopefully) whilst I'm working then that's a low cost to pay. It's only £195 a month more...that isn't that much. My OH could always just get a job earning that much.

Sam_Rogers

The question is between whether you're in a couple or single. If Confused.Com mean you're in a non cohabiting couple, then they're almost certainly right. You only save money when you live together and split the big costs like mortgage and utilities.

Myself, I'm happily single, paying my own mortgage and it won't be any amount of money saving that will make me want to change that.

Fosterdog

I would say that it's obvious that it costs more for two people to live than one person but it's not really taking into account that you have two wages (or more benefits) coming in as a couple.

If one person earns £15000 a year and lives alone spends say £11000 a year on everything they have £4000 a year left over. As a couple each earning £15000 by the figures in first post would spend £13500 this leaves the couple with £16500 left over. Of course the couple are better off than the single person. As two single people there would only be £8000 left over between them for the year.

It doesn't have to be about spending more on a social life or even on meals out as couples. Council tax goes up, water meter costs go up, food for 2 people instead of 1, possibly more gas and electric, maybe running 2 cars instead of 1. It all adds up but is still less than living as two single people.