Living alone is tough financially

You both do not have to work at the same time. There are 168 hours in a week. If someone works 40 during the regular office hours then that leaves 128 to play with at all other times. This will mean no childcare costs but it would mean the other partner doing things like bedtime, homework, clubs and evening meals.

One was teeth out and the other was jabs. Luckily no fucking about accidents. But in the 9 years I’ve had them, they haven’t cost me anything and bring me so much joy. 🥰

that’s another thing, because of my doggies, the home I need to live in needs to be adequate for them and that comes with additional cost, wouldn’t have dogs in a flat, I don’t think it’s fair so a garden is essential.

It’s very tough being on a single income in a society increasingly being based on two incomes per household. I’m a single parent and I’ve struggled to provide single handedly and once my youngest leaves education I’m then unable to get any help towards my living costs even though I’m probably still supporting semi fledged children. I’ll also be considered to have too many bedrooms so need to consider what to do about that, although the rents on smaller properties aren’t always much lower.

The thresholds for income based benefits are much lower if you don't have kids though. Really a single person barely qualifies for any of those. Incidentally this includes single parents whose children are now over 18, who have been hampered in their ability to secure high pay due to child raising.

@EG94
I hope the doggies start behaving themselves and stay well.

@mrsm43s Have you ever lived on JSA as a single person? I have. I could not afford to buy luxuries like yoghurt. The amount of money stops you starving to death, but it is an incredibly basic safety net as a single person.

Oh yea didn’t think of that, but that’s why I like mostly this forums you learn things and see things from other peoples perspectives. Thankfully my insurance is £33 a month but saying that, I had it for years then during COVID was £80 a month, I cancelled it for 3 years until prices were more reasonable because as a single person, £80 a month was unaffordable on top of everything else. Another example, my darling dog just cost me £670 at the vet then the other darling dog cost me £90 within a week!! I’ve had to push my dental appointment back because I can’t afford it. Pretty sure insurance isn’t going to pay out either. But i accept this is part of being alone, it does make it scary and I do miss having the security of saying babe I’m a bit short, can you help but just life. Get on with it.

im glad you are a survivor, as destiny’s child would say.. I’m a survivor, keep on surviving 🥳🥳

You do have the safety net of UC, JSA, DLA/PIP etc.

The only benefits that people with children get that those without don't are ones to support the children THAT YOU DON'T HAVE. So you don't need them.

Do you think there's a special state benefit for people in relationships? Because there isn't. Indeed, it's almost the opposite, a partner's income stops you from being eligible for means tested benefits that the equivalent single person would be able to claim, regardless of whether they are able or willing to support you..

lone parent to a 16 year old here and I hear you

So much anger 🙄

For the most part, we are in the situations we are in, good and bad, because of choices we made. It's really hard to acknowledge that though so people don't like to. So there is a lot of lashing out at each other 🤷‍♀️

I'm finding it tough financially right now and I have a good job but also have a mortgage to pay. It is what it is. There are always options, I just haven't seriously considered any yet.

@EG94
Unfortunately I can't afford the insurance that would cover me off sick as being a cancer survivor the premiums are too high and wouldn't cover the cancer if it returned anyway. I have to just pray that I don't get sick again because otherwise I am truly fucked as a single person. Something so many on this thread just don't seem to understand. Makes me want to shove their tiny violins somewhere unpleasant...

Why do you think that is? You didn't make a neutral statement like the post you quoted, not once. You immediately launched in all angry and twisted and you've been really horrible throughout this thread, consistently and for no reason. Multiple people have expressed exasperation with and been taken back by what you have posted but you've blared on, relentless. I'm sure it's not nice to be called names but equally it has been so very unpleasant to read your abrasive and insulting posts that doubtless people feel that they are responding in kind.

No it doesn't but presumably you've lost your late husband's income

Sorry for your loss x

In fairness when I was single I used to work in a nursery that catered for low income families. I was poorer in reality than most of those families. They all lived in nice modern social housing and had fairly decent houses. I lived in a shitty rented shared house that was not great. They did seem to have more money than me in general as well.

Think I’ve made my feelings on this quite clear 🤣 whilst I largely agree with you, even as single people if we were out of work we could claim UC but would have to wait months so that is sort of a safety net. I have unemployment insurance as a back up because I’m fully aware I am my only safety net and I couldn’t wait I think it’s 4 months for UC. Still a months wait on the insurance front tho. But for me it’s about being self sufficient, think it came from being brought up by a single mum, I’ve never had that safety net during child and adulthood.

On top up benefits with 2 dc to look after compared to just me now; it is much harder now.
food I could easily stretch for all of us. Now though it doesn’t seem worth buying decent food for one. And I do freeze portions.

No, but a little bit of recognition from parents getting those benefits that childfree people don't have the massive safety net they have would be nice. And even parents who don't claim those benefits - at least they know if things go wrong financially the state will step in. Added to that couples are either benefitting from 2 tax free allowances or having one person home keeping the house - feels pretty luxurious to me. There's also more options if one person gets sick.

I'd especially like recognition, primarily from the government, that the current benefits system supports businesses in keeping wages artificially low by providing so many people with top ups. This screws over single, childfree people the most as they are some of the least likely to be eligible for benefits and they don't get two tax free allowances.

It's not a case of being bitter about benefits we don't need, obviously. Just pointing out that there are safety nets for virtually everyone shoild they need them with single people being the exception.

As for you not claiming benefits, I assume that's because you were financially privileged enough not to need them.

@Addictedtofizzydrinks34 my friend and I were talking about this last week. I'm a widow and she's single - never wanted to marry any of her exs.

Anyways, I completely agree. Being single/living on your own is financially hard and decision-making hard (noone to offer counter options/help balance decisions). There are other benefits in being a couple too like companionship (sounds like old people but massively important in happiness ratings).

Financial benefits, though, are the last reason I'd be with someone cos you have to think about that person throughout your relationship and I'd need to be vested in them as a person not just vested in their money.

Oh ffs. You were not called a bitch. Multiple posters have explained to you how you misunderstood that comment.

And unless your children were fully privately educated and none of the 4 of you have ever received any nhs care, then you will have received more than you have paid in taxes. You really haven't done badly out of being here. Maybe I should get my tiny violin out...

They didn't call you the b word. Try reading it properly.

You bitch = you complain about.

I agree with pp though, your posts have been unpleasant to read.

Seriously, not all families claim benefits. We certainly didn't.

Are single people really bitter that they can't get childcare hours for children they don't have, FSMs for children they don't have, CB for children they don't have?

And I'm fairly sure relationship status isn't a qualifying factor for PIP, DLA, JSA, UC, Housing Benefit (or whatever it is now) etc.

Basically, benefits are based on need. If you don't have kids, you don't need the benefits to support the kids you don't have, such as free (it's not really free btw) childcare or free school meals!

Not all of us have siblings and how many people have friends who would want to buy a property with them? Some posters write such trite!

One wage supporting one person with no impediments to climbing the career ladder shouldn't need benefits.

You know it takes time to climb the career ladder though, right?

I'm working 2 jobs, sometimes 55 hours over 6 days a week at age 49. I work in the public sector and although I have 16 years relevant experience and various relevant qualifications, I can't get onto the career path I want to pursue without a degree...which is going to take me 6 years and cost approx £21,000.

By that time, I'll be nearly 55, so chuck workplace ageism and the fact I'll be paying my student loans back and trying to top up the pension that I can't afford to pay into at the moment...how much better off do you think I'll be?

Agree it is tough. I am now 62, but could not afford to live alone before I married. Always house shared. It is just so expensive and there is no safety net like you have in a couple.