Main content

The Costs of Being Single

Almost eight million people live alone in the UK and numbers are rising. New ONS figures show it's more expensive to be solo, so what are the financial challenges?

Almost 8 million people live alone in the UK and numbers are rising. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show it's more expensive to be single, so what are the financial penalties if you're not a couple? Inevitably, household expenses are more costly when you're not sharing rent or mortgage payments, energy or water bills. But outside the home, there are many ways that singletons pay a premium - whether it's more expensive holidays, hotel rooms, train fares, car insurance or even theatre tickets.

On Money Box Live, we want to hear how you can cut the costs of being single. Apart from the 25% council tax discount, where else are singletons given a price reduction? And, with the number of one-person households expected to reach more than 10 million by 2039, should the government consider new policies to ease the financial burden?

Share your views and experiences with Louise Cooper and guests. Email moneybox@bbc.co.uk or call 03700 100 444 from 1pm to 3.30pm on Wednesday 17 April. Standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles will apply.

Guests:
Professor Donald Hirsch, Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University
Kara Gammell, personal finance journalist

Presenter: Louise Cooper
Producer: Sally Abrahams

Available now

29 minutes

Last on

Wed 17 Apr 2019 15:00

Broadcast

  • Wed 17 Apr 2019 15:00

The Death of Retirement

The Death of Retirement

Money Box explores what retirement might look like in the future,

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.

Podcast