Do couples pay the price for being in a relationship?

Anatidaephobia

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Sorry, that doesn't make any sense. Why didn't you just go on your own?

I've been to both the cinema and gigs on my own. The cinema is okay but I don't really enjoy gigs alone. There is too much waiting around for the act to come on, or time in between support and main act, etc... sometimes you end up chatting to someone random but sometimes you're just hanging around yourself. I know plenty of people who enjoy going to gigs alone but personally I prefer to be with a friend or partner

lostinrates

Anatidaephobia wrote: »

I also feel I have more options being part of a couple. When single, if I wanted to do something; sometimes it could be difficult to find someone to do it with.

For example, going to the cinema, having to track down all your friends and find someone available at the same time you were who wanted to see the same film you want to; or if you wanted to go to a gig, you'd have to find someone who wanted to see the same act you did, was willing to commit months (sometimes years) in advance and could afford the tickets. I'm not saying it was impossible but I'm sure everyone has had times when they wanted to do something and their friends were all busy/broke/not up for it so you missed out.

Whereas now I can just book tickets to anything I want without consulting my OH, I know he'll come with me even if he doesn't fancy whatever it is, so it'll be fine.

Hmm. My DH is invited to do all that stuff without me. Similarly I had short listed some films on amazon he didn't fancy watching and so I watch them on evenings he is away for work.

Alone isn't a social disease, and lone tickets also mean you can pick up odd returns for those very things that have been booked out months or years in advance. . Miss out? No, go alone. Lots of the music reviewers etc will be doing it, why not us?

Anatidaephobia

lostinrates wrote: »

Hmm. My DH is invited to do all that stuff without me. Similarly I had short listed some films on amazon he didn't fancy watching and so I watch them on evenings he is away for work.

Alone isn't a social disease, and lone tickets also mean you can pick up odd returns for those very things that have been booked out months or years in advance. . Miss out? No, go alone. Lots of the music reviewers etc will be doing it, why not us?

Absolutely; nothing wrong going alone

burnoutbabe

nothing wrong with going to stuff alone.

But one often wants to do stuff with someone else. Now if single, you organise that with a friend, but generally they only do it if they really want to.

Now a partner will generally just go along anyway. I'd not go and see Expendables 3 with any friend but i have with my other half. And he came along to Backstreet Boys without too much moaning

lostinrates

burnoutbabe wrote: »

nothing wrong with going to stuff alone.

But one often wants to do stuff with someone else. Now if single, you organise that with a friend, but generally they only do it if they really want to.

Now a partner will generally just go along anyway. I'd not go and see Expendables 3 with any friend but i have with my other half. And he came along to Backstreet Boys without too much moaning

Depends on the partner and living situation. Partnerships aren't always perfect. 'In sickness and in health.' Means if I were happy to go along with stuff with DH it would be a lot of effort and expense, just popping along isn't how it works for me.

Also, we don't live together weekdays, so he's in London I'm not. He's on the spot to do the great things. While if I were healthy its in reach, things aren't.

Other couples find things like child care, work patterns, finance limitations mean sometimes doing stuff alone really can be a key strategy in how to get to things.


Incidentally, this 'Going to things together cos your partners and the other has to' is exactly the sort of financial way couples can spend more than singles because one of you is spending not just on 'extra' stuff ( not saying its not valuable, just not the basic spending) but on extra stuff they don't even want to spend on apart from out of love.

SandC

I go on holidays alone also, well they are group things. Yes they are a bit more expensive but that's a part of it that you have to expect. A room costs what a room costs.

The part of it that does burn a bit of a hole in the finances is the costs to get there, airport parking or taxi to airport is not shared and can be pricey. Long haul flights where I might have to go from Gatwick or Heathrow sometimes a hotel stay the night before is best for peace of mind in getting there for the flight so again it's a cost not shared. Same at the other end if you haven't booked a package that includes transfers.

I often say how great it would be if I met someone, shared costs for luxuries like that could mean more of them!

JasX

burnoutbabe wrote: »

nothing wrong with going to stuff alone.

But one often wants to do stuff with someone else. Now if single, you organise that with a friend, but generally they only do it if they really want to.

Now a partner will generally just go along anyway. I'd not go and see Expendables 3 with any friend but i have with my other half. And he came along to Backstreet Boys without too much moaning

when work posts you off traveling and you end up forced to do the 'table for one' thing at local restaurants if you actually want to eat you quickly shed inhibitions about going to things on your own

Anatidaephobia

lostinrates wrote: »

Incidentally, this 'Going to things together cos your partners and the other has to' is exactly the sort of financial way couples can spend more than singles because one of you is spending not just on 'extra' stuff ( not saying its not valuable, just not the basic spending) but on extra stuff they don't even want to spend on apart from out of love.

This is very true.

pinkandblueshoe

When Ive travelled alone, my bus ticket has got me to the airport, the one I use in my area also takes me there and back.

I dont drive so dont pay for parking and a single room from the site travel republic has generally cost me about £5 more a night than it would if I were sharing a double with someone. I dont tend to fly v early morning or late nights so don't need a taxi to the airport. I did stay overnight the last time I went abroad but I got the room for 35 quid. The last transfer I booked also through travel republic cost me 14 quid return from airport to resort.

Tbh, going all inclusive on your own I think saves money because as people have said you do your own thing.

Ive also gone to gigs on my own without any problem and I have a cinema ticket and happily go to the cinema on my own, in fact I really enjoy it.

SandC

I go on these group things as my choice so it's fair enough that it costs me more. It has just occurred to me though that yes you can do the single thing to a budget but it takes a lot more effort - of course that can be part of the fun.

It still doesn't point to couples 'paying the price' for being in a relationship.