Living alone is something they say everyone should do at some point in their life and for those who do, it's often a dream to have the personal space, privacy and as much fridge space as you like.
However, there is often the nightmare of the singles premium that eats away at our hard-earned money and limits our savings.
Single-person households spend an average of 92% of their disposable income, compared to 83% that two-adult households spend.
There are also more people living on their own than now than there were 20 years ago- the ONS said there has been an increase of a fifth making the figure around 8.2million people.
To help us save money when living alone, Insulation Express have come up with six tips that can add up to almost £8,500 per year.
1. Apply for single person’s council tax discount
You’re entitled to a 25% reduction in council tax if you live alone.
To ensure the discount is applied, just contact your local council tax office and you cold save £6.13 every week.
2. One-person household benefits
If you’re on a low income, you may be eligible for a housing benefit to contribute towards living costs.
The average housing benefit payment is £95.77 per week and you can check eligibility via a benefits calculator.
3. Meal plan
Planning your meals for the week can reduce food spend and waste significantly.
Utilise your freezer to store meat, pre-cooked meals and multi-buys which could save you at least £24.76 a week.
4. Buy second hand
If you’re one for buying a new outfit for every weekend outing, buying second hand is the best option for cutting costs.
You can buy clothes, books and exercise equipment on eBay, Depop and Facebook Marketplace.
Experts say this could save you £26.30 a week.
5. Switch heating suppliers
You should be regularly checking your gas and electric spending and switch suppliers if you find a better deal.
Those that shop around can save on average £5.77 per week.
6. Ditch the latest iPhone
You don’t need the latest iPhone.
If your mobile phone contract is coming to an end and your phone is in fully working order, stick with it and switch to a SIM-only deal, saving £1.92 every week.
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