When you’re used to splitting the cost of living with a partner, it can be difficult to suddenly find yourself single again and struggling to pay your bills. Single people often find that the ratio of their income to their expenses is much different than it is when married or living with someone. Fortunately, there are numerous things you can do to help save money despite having only one income.
Get a roommate: The cost of housing is often a steep one, but being unattached doesn’t mean you can’t share it with someone. A larger house or apartment that will accommodate two people will cost more overall, but the shared cost between yourself and a roommate will likely be less than that of a smaller one just for you. Utility and grocery bills can be split as well.
Cut that cable: Cable or satellite television services can be extremely expensive. It may seem hard to cut that tie, but consider how much time you actually spend watching TV and how often you’re able to find shows that you enjoy. A better alternative might be a streaming service such as Netflix, Shomi or CraveTV which are only a fraction of the cost and allows you to watch what you want when you want.
Buy in bulk: You might not be feeding anyone but yourself, but you aren’t excluded from the money-saving strategy of buying in bulk. Large packages of meat or vegetables can be split up and frozen into individual servings. Other products, such as toilet paper and cleaning products, will last a long time on your shelf and still provide excellent savings.
Cook at home: Feeling discouraged about the idea of cooking an entire meal just for yourself? The good news is that you don’t have to waste that effort. Make a large meal, split it into meal-size servings, and freeze it for later. You won’t be stuck eating the same food for an entire week just to keep it from spoiling, and you’ll still have the benefit of eating a home cooked meal.
Visit the library: Entertainment doesn’t always come cheap, but sometimes you can get it for free! Libraries these days don’t just have books. They often have DVD’s and audiobooks that you can borrow, and some also lend out ebooks. This is also a great place to stop in and use the internet instead of paying for that service every month.
Living alone doesn’t have to feel like a punishment. Don’t let yourself fall prey to the idea that you are stuck with high housing costs and single-servings. Make smart choices at the store, think ahead, and look for less expensive entertainment options. Soon enough, you’ll start to see that you have a little extra money in the bank.
