Citizens Advice in Rutland says life can be more financially difficult for single people
Research from Uswitch shows that single people in Britain are paying over £3000 a year more on average for household expenses
Citizens Advice in Rutland says single people are struggling more financially than those in a relationship.
Research from Uswitch shows that single people in Britain are paying £3844 a year more on average than couples for household expenses.
The analysis compared living expenses for people not living with a partner, including single-person properties or renting a room in a house/flat share, with the bills of those who do live with their partner and split bills.
On average, household bills account for more than half of single people’s monthly income.
Those living alone feel the pinch more on rent 44% more, music streaming 68% more and broadband bills 29% more.
You don't have the ability to put money aside to then get a mortgage
Clare Bryan, deputy CEO of Citizens Advice Rutland, said:
"If all your income is going on rent, council tax, and essential bills, you don't have the ability to put money aside to then get a mortgage, and when you come to borrowing money for a mortgage, your lending ability is lower as you potentially have less income."
"We also have to recognise there's a barrier for single parents accessing work."
"Whilst single parents may get additional elements of having children in their universal credit, they don't have the ability to go to work so easily because they don't have reliability of childcare with another partner."
"They face that additional barrier of returning to work or maintaining employment."
"One thing we do see is higher rates of single people or single parents for our food bank users, as they're usually on a lower income."
Higher rates of single people or single parents use our food bank
More than one in 10 singles rely on credit cards for household bills, with some delaying payments or even considering staying in relationships to cut costs.
More than one in 10 single adults say they have used a credit card to pay household bills to help manage their finances.
As well as this, 15% admit to being tempted to stay in a relationship to keep costs down.