{"id":273354,"date":"2025-07-19T00:16:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T00:16:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/273354\/"},"modified":"2025-07-19T00:16:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T00:16:16","slug":"8-money-saving-tips-for-single-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/273354\/","title":{"rendered":"8 money-saving tips for single people"},"content":{"rendered":"

Being single during a cost-of-living crisis can feel like the odds are stacked against you \u2013 but you\u2019re not alone.<\/p>\n

While we can\u2019t change the housing market or eliminate the so-called “single tax” that comes with living solo, gaining a clearer understanding of your spending habits can be a powerful first step towards getting back on track.<\/p>\n

From bills to socialising to cooking, here are simple ways to cut costs across all areas of life. With a few smart adjustments, you can enjoy the freedom of single life and do the things you love without compromising your financial independence.<\/p>\n

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1. Be open and honest about your financial situation with loved ones<\/b><\/p>\n

“Be honest with your friends about where your finances are,” advises Zoe Brett, financial planner at EQ Investors. “There\u2019s all this pressure from social media to be going on a holiday or visiting that trendy new bar, and if you can\u2019t afford it, or if you\u2019ve just got other goals where your money is better spent, just be honest with your friends about it.<\/p>\n

“If they\u2019re real friends, they\u2019re not going to care if you can\u2019t go to that fancy restaurant \u2013 they\u2019ll find something cheaper to do.”<\/p>\n

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2. Shop around for the best deals<\/b><\/p>\n

“Always look for a better deal when bills are coming up for renewal,” recommends Johanna Mason, CEO of Cherry Dating. “For example, let\u2019s say my car insurance is up for renewal, I won\u2019t sit there and just accept that offer. I\u2019ll go and have a look and see what else is out there to try and reduce the cost. If you go on comparison sites, you can get some massive savings.”<\/p>\n

3. Don\u2019t splash the cash on a first date<\/b><\/p>\n

“For first dates, I always suggest a coffee because that takes the pressure off both parties,” says Mason. “I think it\u2019s a good way to break the ice to start with, without the awkwardness of who\u2019s picking up the bill.”<\/p>\n

A simple picnic can also be a thoughtful, budget-friendly date.<\/p>\n

“A picnic is not going to cost a fortune, and I think it\u2019s quite a nice romantic gesture,” says Mason. “It\u2019s not always about the money, it\u2019s about the thought that goes into planning that date, because it means they are making an effort. If they\u2019re making the effort there, then hopefully they will make the effort in other areas of a relationship as well.”<\/p>\n

Brett agrees and says, “I think we get too caught up in the idea that dates need to be a big show of extravagance to show what you can offer, but actually the purpose of a date is to get to know someone and see whether or not you have a good vibe between you.”<\/p>\n

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4. Put aside money in an emergency fund<\/b><\/p>\n

“When you are single, there\u2019s no second income to pick up the slack if you lose your job or if the boiler breaks,” recognises Brett. “It\u2019s all on your shoulders, so it\u2019s important to have a back-up plan like an emergency fund.<\/p>\n

“Putting aside money every month into an emergency fund gives you some financial security and I just treat my emergency fund payments like any other bill. Just start small and soon it will add up to something more substantial.”<\/p>\n

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5. Prioritise getting rid of debt<\/b><\/p>\n

“A lot of people get into debt when they don\u2019t manage the fact that living a single life is far more expensive than life as a couple,” highlights Brett. “They often try to \u2018keep up with the Joneses\u2019 and end up getting into debt, and that\u2019s a surefire way to make yourself absolutely miserable.<\/p>\n

“If you have got any debt, then prioritise getting rid of that first because debt can cripple someone\u2019s financial position. You shouldn\u2019t really be saving anything beyond an emergency fund if you\u2019ve still got debt to pay.”<\/p>\n

6. Seek out free or low-cost activities and events in your local area<\/b><\/p>\n

“Staying connected with your friends is massively important when you\u2019re single and doesn\u2019t have to cost you the earth,” says Mason. “If you\u2019re into fitness, you could join a local walking or yoga group.”<\/p>\n

Brett agrees and adds: “Even just going around to your mate\u2019s house with a bottle of wine is great fun. Fun doesn\u2019t have to be expensive.”<\/p>\n

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7. Batch cook meals instead of relying on takeaways<\/b><\/p>\n

“It\u2019s too easy to rely on takeaways when you\u2019re cooking for one person, because cooking can seem like a lot of effort for one person. But that\u2019s a really slippery slope, so try to avoid falling into that trap,” advises Brett. “It\u2019s good to cook your own meals from scratch and it doesn\u2019t have to be anything extravagant. I\u2019m a big fan of batch cooking and freezing meals.”<\/p>\n

8. Offer to drive<\/b><\/p>\n

“If I\u2019ve not got a huge amount in my bank account, I\u2019ll always opt for driving,” says Mason. “Driving means I can still go out and see my friends and have a really good time, but I don\u2019t need to pay for expensive drinks at the bar. Instead, I will opt for soda water and fresh lime and that doesn\u2019t cost much \u2013 some bars don\u2019t even charge you for it.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Being single during a cost-of-living crisis can feel like the odds are stacked against you \u2013 but you\u2019re…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":273355,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3093],"tags":[51,474,2499,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-273354","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-personal-finance","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-finance","10":"tag-personal-finance","11":"tag-uk","12":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114877024669971233","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=273354"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273354\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=273354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=273354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=273354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}