Page 6 | To ask if you’ve lived alone did you struggle

Blanketenvy · 28/01/2026 00:31

On one level I love it. I need an awful lot of time alone to cope with any socialising. I can't imagine having someone around me all the time. I like pottering around without being seen. But its hard financially, it's hard having to do everything myself without any practical or emotional support. I have a lot of health problems and it's a challenge there never being anyone else to walk the dog or cook etc. I also really miss having some social contact that doesn't take 25 WhatsApp messages to arrange- sometimes I just want to have a conversation or walk to local pub without it feeling super hard work even arranging for that to happen.

Snaletrale · 28/01/2026 00:30

I loved it but had a great social life so wasn’t lonely.

JustGiveMeReason · 28/01/2026 00:22

I was fine when I lived alone.

Struggle in what way @Legally77777 ?

Financially? Socially ? Something else ?

PeloMom · 28/01/2026 00:16

I loved it. So much freedom.

TheWibble · 28/01/2026 00:14

I love living alone. I did find the adjustment difficult at first because I'd always lived with other people. But now that I'm used to it, i don't think i could live with anyone again.

Stigsmother · 28/01/2026 00:12

I have lived alone for almost all my adult life, and i love it, can't imagine anything else.
Can't deny an additional income would help though

IfIHadAHeart · 28/01/2026 00:10

I hate it. I struggle financially despite being on a decent salary, and I am deeply lonely.

I am envious of everyone who loves living alone - I really wish that’s how I felt. I like having the bed to myself, but that’s about it.

AutumnAllTheWay · 28/01/2026 00:07

I did not struggle emotionally one bit. Loved it. Financially harder though.

Friendlygingercat · 28/01/2026 00:05

I hated the lack of privacy of living with my parents and sister in a tiny 2 up 2 down. Apart from a very short period when I was married I have lived alone. I was not made to live comunally and would never wish to live with another person again. I dont even like staying with people or having them stay. I regard this as a strength rather than a weakness, I am not part of a pair. I am complete within myself. I also have a much lower carbon footprint. Single person households are 29.5% of all households. However we get a pretty shitty deal on council tax because we are subsidising families.

TheCurious0range · 28/01/2026 00:02

Bigearringsbigsmile · 28/01/2026 00:01

Do you mean social? 😲🤣

Show quote history

😂 yes I meant social!!!!

Bigearringsbigsmile · 28/01/2026 00:01

TheCurious0range · 27/01/2026 23:50

I loved it, had a new build one bed flat just me and my cat, everything exactly where I left it, no one else to think about. I was pretty suicidal so not lacking in company or things to do, but cherished some time purely to myself too.

Do you mean social? 😲🤣

GarlicSound · 28/01/2026 00:00

Onetimeusername1 · 27/01/2026 23:30

To open jars, yes I did.

I have a thingy to open jars. It was the first thing I bought after my divorce.

ReignOfError · 27/01/2026 23:55

No. I’ve lived alone at various ages and for varied amounts of time, and I’ve always loved it.

Octavia64 · 27/01/2026 23:51

No

TheCurious0range · 27/01/2026 23:50

I loved it, had a new build one bed flat just me and my cat, everything exactly where I left it, no one else to think about. I was pretty suicidal so not lacking in company or things to do, but cherished some time purely to myself too.

Beakthrough · 27/01/2026 23:50

Financially, being single and living alone is very expensive, but I don't miss living with a person.

WhaleEye · 27/01/2026 23:49

In my 20s I mostly lived alone due to relocating a couple of times with work. There was a spell when I found weekends quite long and I had to work hard to build a social life.
I’ve been married a long time and love him to bits, but would survive my myself if anything happened to him.

BeanQuisine · 27/01/2026 23:48

I've lived alone for most of my life and wouldn't be able to bear someone else sharing my house, for anything more than brief visits.

I manage well enough with the help of tradesmen, gardener etc. Can't say I'm terribly happy these days, but I'd be even less so if I had to cope with someone else all the time.

My3cents · 27/01/2026 23:48

Ponderingwindow · 27/01/2026 23:21

The brief period in my adult life where I managed to live alone, I broke toes on two separate occasions. I am not the kind of person that successfully cultivates a village. Simple tasks like moving a piece of furniture became chances for me to get ridiculous injuries. I still managed. I would also do it again. I’m just happy knowing that if I do it again, I will probably be in a better financial position. I will still be truly alone, but I will be able to afford to hire help.

I broke a toe after 8 months of living in my current home. It wasn’t even done moving furniture as i got a handyman in for all that. So i guess for me it could have happened anywhere living alone or not - I was just walking past a stool in my bedroom 😣 worst pain ever!!

MayAwayDay · 27/01/2026 23:48

I lived on my own for about 10 years, mid 20s to mid 30s and bloody loved it

PandorasSockBox · 27/01/2026 23:47

I have lived alone for the majority of my adult life.
I never thought of it as a struggle. There are things I might have done differently, though.
How old are you?

wfhwfh · 27/01/2026 23:45

When you say “struggle”, do you mean financially or in terms of solitude? I loved living alone - but it is more costly.

TheAmusedQuail · 27/01/2026 23:44

I live alone. The best bits of my life are spent alone. Other people, while lovely at times, are stressful.

My3cents · 27/01/2026 23:43

YouBelongHere · 27/01/2026 23:36

I love it and would struggle to live with someone else full-time but it can be difficult when something goes wrong and I'm the only one here to try and fix it.

Or when there's a spider. I'm bloody terrified of them and they never crop up when my friend who doesn't mind spiders is here, they only come out when I'm alone 😂

Financially it's also okay. The good definitely outweighs the bad and I love having my own space!!

Yes. The spiders aaargh! I’m strategically very friendly with my neighbour and her husband. lol

Seriously though I am not friendly with them for that reason, but it’s at the back of my mind that I could maybe call on them to defeat an 8 legged enemy, since I do have the woman round for tea occasionally.

DustyMaiden · 27/01/2026 23:39

I’ve not lived alone at any time. Just me and DH now retired. Most of my life 5 or 6 in the house. I’ve always thought living alone would be good.