The true cost of being single today – and why it’s going to get worse

Expired hummus. Mouldy bread. And the same carrot and coriander soup I always buy because it’s the cheapest one I can find at my local supermarket. That’s a typical lunch in my flat, where I work from all day, every day, mostly in order to avoid spending money on overcrowded transport and overpriced lattes.

As a single woman living with just one other person, I make a lot of compromises to pay my rent – and I’m far from the only one. This week, it was revealed that the average private rent prices in Great Britain have risen to record highs, with growth in locations like Reading and Coventry at 20 per cent. According to, the average rent outside of London has surged to £1,291 per month, which is 8.5 per cent higher than last year.

I’m lucky to have a housemate and live in a property where my rent is fixed for the duration of my three-year tenancy. But a partner, whom I could share a one bedroom property with, would arguably make things far cheaper. And given the chaos of the current dating market, I can’t see that changing any time soon. That means I have to consistently make compromises to my lifestyle in order to afford my flat – around 70 per cent of my income goes on rent.Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to do it.

Instead, I tend to eat the same three meals on a rotation that I know I can afford to buy and can cook fairly quickly and easily. And I’m not averse to consuming something past its expiry date – you can usually tell from the smell if it’s going to make you unwell.

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