The ‘Singles Tax’ Is Real. Here Are 3 Ways to Save Money if You’re Solo

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Whether you live alone by choice or by chance, it’s not cheap. Keep reading for real advice from the trenches of living solo. 

I’ve been living alone for three years now, and I absolutely love it. My apartment is always exactly as clean and as quiet as I want it to be (extremely), which is absolutely crucial to my happiness and sense of well-being (especially as I also work from home). And now that I’m saving to buy a house in the near future, I’m excited I’ll be buying it solo and get final say over every last detail of the process.

Unfortunately, keeping my personal finances solo sure isn’t cheap. A recent survey of more than 1,000 adults by Forbes Advisor and market research company Prolific found that 93% of them acknowledged the higher costs of living alone. These extra expenses are referred to as the “singles tax,” and include the additional money people like me pay in taxes as well as for everyday bills like utilities. Housing costs are a particularly notable part of the singles tax, and data from Zillow found that those living alone pay an average of nearly $7,000 more per year for housing.

If you’re living solo and wondering how you can cut costs, here are some tips that I rely on to get by. And no, I won’t tell you to get a roommate — because if you live alone by choice, that sure isn’t an appealing option.

1. Buy in bulk strategically

Stores like Costco and Sam’s Club are extremely popular with American families, and it’s easy to see why — they offer great deals on bulk groceries. If you live alone, it probably doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to buy most food items in bulk, but it still might be a good idea to buy some things in bulk. I don’t have a warehouse club membership (my closest Costco is 60 miles away; my closest Sam’s Club is 85 miles away), but I do my bulk shopping on Amazon as well as at Target and my local grocery store.

I don’t buy produce or other perishable food items in bulk, but I buy large packages of paper goods (like paper towels, toilet paper, and tissues) and multipacks of toiletries and cleaning products. They don’t go bad, after all. If I spot a good sale on my favorite type of canned soup or pantry staples like canned tomatoes, I’ll load up.

I share my home with three cats, so I also buy their food and supplies in bulk. If you only have one pet and don’t go through a lot of food at a time, it probably doesn’t make sense to buy in bulk — your pet won’t appreciate spoiled food any more than you do.

2. Keep otherwise shared costs down

If you live alone, it’s on you to cover the entirety of expenses that might otherwise be shared, like utility bills, insurance, and maybe even a vehicle. So the lower you can keep your costs in these areas, the better. It’s worth asking your internet service provider about specials available (you might be able to get a lower rate for a year), or consider switching altogether, if you’re lucky enough to have multiple options in your area.

For your heating and cooling costs, consider signing up for budget billing — you’ll be charged a set amount per month. If budget billing isn’t an option for you, you can still be mindful of your utility usage. Consider opening the windows at night instead of running the air conditioner. And yes, what your dad used to say when you were growing up is true — go put on a sweater instead of turning the heat up. Space heaters are also a great appliance if you live alone; you can keep the heat set lower overall and just warm up the room you’re in.

Shop around for your car insurance and homeowners (or renters) insurance. And take it from me, it’s far and away worth it to keep an older paid-off car for as long as you can. Your insurance costs will be lower, and not having a car payment means you can pay off debt, invest, or pad your emergency fund.

3. Make sure you have cash at the ready

If you’re flying solo, a solid emergency fund is even more crucial, because you’re the only one contributing to those unexpected bills, too. Common wisdom for an emergency fund is to save three to six months’ worth of costs in a savings account. But if you’re on your own, you might want an even larger cushion. The same goes for your checking account — I keep mine padded beyond my regular bills, just in case something comes up.

If you don’t have savings at all, I’ve also been there. But saving any amount of money can help, even if you have to start slow. If you can take on a side hustle, having extra cash coming in can help your finances in all kinds of ways — paying off debt, saving that emergency fund, and giving you more breathing room on your bills.

Living alone can be fantastic, if you can manage the costs. Try to keep otherwise shared costs as low as you can, and don’t discount the importance of having emergency savings (in any amount you can manage).

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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon.com, Costco Wholesale, Target, and Zillow Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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