Do couples pay the price for being in a relationship?

VestanPance

If you are a traveller and not a tourist it's more expensive to travel when single, unless you just want a bunk in a hostel. Most countries charge per room, not per person.

The only saving you'll make is only having to buy one set of flights. Unless you're going somewhere really cheap (parts of SE Asia) that flight saving won't offset the cost of not splitting the room cost.

If you're a package holidy type you'll get shafted as a single persan. Thankfully I'm not a package holiday person. My idea of a nightmare.

Gigs and cinema are no issue as a single person. In fact I went to most gigs alone when I was in a couple, as we different tastes in music.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I rented a one bed flat alone for years; the identical flat above was always tenanted by couples. Splitting the rent meant that they could save £500+ per month without even trying. Similarly, a combined income will get you a better mortgage deal. These are the single biggest financial factors that cost singletons.

There are always budget travel options for holidays, but going to a wedding in one of those country house locations when you can't split the room is always costly.

pinkandblueshoe

I didnt get shafted as a single person when travelling to Spain (quiet fishing resort, nowhere near the madness). I paid I think £35 more for the week having a single room than I would have sharing a double in the same hotel. Sites like travel republic and other companies don't charge single people ridiculous supplements. Actually last year when I was away I had a double room for a week and I paid just over 200 pounds for a week all inclusive, I wasnt charged ridiculous amounts because I had a double room for single use, not at all.

Of course it depends where you go and what you want to do. Im happy to go all inclusive and while I quite like a bit of sun and being near a beach, Im not someone who wants to go to places full of folks who want to spend a week getting hammered, I like quiet locations and it's possible to find them at low cost even at peak times.

Think Im paying just over 300 pounds for 8 nights all inclusive in a quiet resort in Spain, in August. Two people sharing will probably pay around £550.

I reckon I'll save the £50 by being on my own and not in a group. The last time I went abroad with friends we went half board because the girl booking didn't want to go all inclusive which meant lunches out. We also spent more because she had to book through a travel agent and we could have got a discount if we had booked the holiday online with the same company but she refused to as she was the kind of person who had to deal with the travel agent direct.

My holidays on my own have been much less expensive than the ones I had with my last bf and with friends, even if you factored in sharing a room to keep the costs down.

WorkFromHome

It's all about being open with your money. My better half knows about my debt and we always look for offers be forign going out so I'd say we are better off financially because we are together. I wouldn't be so careful if I was single x

onomatopoeia99

Anatidaephobia wrote: »

For me, I actually think the biggest problem with cooking for one is that I couldn't be bothered half the time. If there was nobody else there who cared about what is being cooked (or even knows what I'm going to have for dinner), I'll lose motivation and can't be bothered doing anything that requires too much effort, whereas cooking for two feels more worthwhile. Maybe I just have lazy tendencies though; I know not everybody feels this way.

I don't - while most of my meals are two saucepan efforts - one for the rice or pasta and one for what accompanies it - and generally take not much longer than it takes to boil the water and cook the rice / pasta, I still make an effort to cook something tasty. Where I lose motivation is doing a roast for one person - that's a lot of effort and washing up for one.

Anatidaephobia wrote: »

]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.

Such experiences are often better shared, but given my tastes in music and film, finding any of my friends that would be willing to accompany me to things would be impossible, so I always go on my own. Yes there's sitting / standing around at gigs, but it's that or not go and I'd far rather an hour of waiting than miss out entirely.

JasX

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

I don't - while most of my meals are two saucepan efforts - one for the rice or pasta and one for what accompanies it - and generally take not much longer than it takes to boil the water and cook the rice / pasta, I still make an effort to cook something tasty. Where I lose motivation is doing a roast for one person - that's a lot of effort and washing up for one.

I've found it's driven me the other way and I've ended up finding things cheaper and healthier -without needing to impress anyone/meet expectations during the week I'll often happily make do with a light tomato /feta salad or simple omlette or some such for dinner. Plus with nobody else around I'll have no qualms about having something very similar for dinner more than one day a week if I see it's clearly saving me effort and money (oh, and losing a bit of weight at the same time too ;p)

cawyatt

I'm definitely better off single, post-divorce. I was the higher earner, but he had the expensive habits - two cars (not counting mine), a motor-bike, a share in a plane. Not to mention a wine habit...

I now live alone in a tiny Victorian terrace near my work, can walk everywhere, drink a couple of glasses of wine a month, eat simply (it's more fun than it sounds, honest) and I'm saving at least £500 a month.

fatpiggy

As a person who has lived alone for over 30 years, I can catagorically say that it is wildly expensive compared to being half of a couple. As others have said, you have all the bills being charged to one income stream (just raising a deposit and mortgage in the first place if you want to buy is back-breaking and demoralizing), the Council Tax "rebate" is a joke, you can't take advantage of things like Groupon etc trips because they are all for two sharing, BOGOFFS, 2 for 1 entry to things, meals etc. Sometimes I think we are just there to be cash cows. As for holidays, I haven't had one since 2001. A while ago, out of curiosity, I looked at a company which specialized in solo travellers. For a week away, including spends I wouldn' t have had much change out of £1000 FOR A WEEK!!!! I've got better things to do that sort of money. They all say they don't charge single room supplements etc, but that is because they just add it to the base price (much like the 25% off if you get your insurance on-line - 25% of what?). I also know from experience that if you holiday alone you get hassled by the men, and get dumped on the table by the gents in restaurants. Having had a very frightening experience and lucky escape a few years back, so thanks but no thanks. I just don't feel safe and if something happens, who is going to miss you and report it? I do go out to concerts (classical), the theatre etc alone, but never the cinema not least because I have no-one to discuss it with after.

sue.b_2

Go to theatres, cinemas and other venues on your own. Why do you have to find someone to go with?

fatpiggy

sue.b wrote: »

Go to theatres, cinemas and other venues on your own. Why do you have to find someone to go with?

You don't HAVE to go with someone, but it is nice to chat about it afterwards with someone, maybe over a drink or whatever. I leave home, attend the event, and go straight back home again in solitary silence.