living single

[babble]

Are there any threads about women that live alone?

How do you like making the mortgage/rent payment with only your income? How about the dreaded property tax bill? Everything is your responsibility. No sharing expenses here.

Couples don't realize that your mortgage or utilities are not 1/2 of theirs because you live alone.

I work a couple of extra jobs just to have some fun money. When I hear friends complain about money or their husband's spending habits, I would like to see them living on their own. A lot of them could not live on their own. Do you think they realize that? Sometime they tell me I am lucky. Bah!

[sarcasticgirl]

Funny thing... my living expenses were LOWER when i was living single.
I thought it would be awesome when DH and i moved in together because i'd save so much money. boy was i wrong!

[Deleted]

I live with my 3 kids and pay everything on my own. Not sure what your point is. When someone else is living there, lots of expenses go up - electricity, water, food, etc.

[babble]

Nov 7, 2011 15:41:11 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

Funny thing... my living expenses were LOWER when i was living single.
I thought it would be awesome when DH and i moved in together because i'd save so much money. boy was i wrong!

Did your rent/mortgage double?
I could see utilities going up a little, but not twice as much.
Did DH pay half of the living expenses?

I thought having two incomes would make it easier to budget.

[babble]

Nov 7, 2011 16:01:07 GMT -5 @singlemominmd said:

I live with my 3 kids and pay everything on my own. Not sure what your point is. When someone else is living there, lots of expenses go up - electricity, water, food, etc.

That sucks you don't get child support or any additional assistance.

I know expenses would go up, but not twice as much. When I had a roommate my utility expenses were maybe a little higher. Rent was the same no matter how many people lived there. It must be the area I live in.

[Deleted]

Nov 7, 2011 16:05:43 GMT -5 @babble said:

Nov 7, 2011 16:01:07 GMT -5 @singlemominmd said:

I live with my 3 kids and pay everything on my own. Not sure what your point is. When someone else is living there, lots of expenses go up - electricity, water, food, etc.

That sucks you don't get child support or any additional assistance.

I know expenses would go up, but not twice as much. When I had a roommate my utility expenses were maybe a little higher. Rent was the same no matter how many people lived there. It must be the area I live in.

actually not getting child support isn't that big of a deal. I make more than enough to support everyone and I don't have to deal with anyone else having any input into what I do or don't spend my money on. Now, would it have been nice to have the $100K that I'm owed - sure - but can't get blood from a turnip.

[bluecluessubtlety]

My single friend used to say that when I was married and I always suspected I'd do better financially on my own. Now that I'm divorced I see I do!

Second income is great if you're on the same page. When you're not, it's just more expenses.

Sometimes I think now that I am living the way I always wanted to (frgually) and so is he (because he was FORCED to), if we were together we'd be high on the hog. But then I look at some of his spending choices and realize if we were back together we'd be back in debt. More income means more spending with him. Not going there ever again.

[mizbear]

I have done much better financially single than married. Granted, I have not had the best choices in men, but it goes back to mainly what blues said-

not being on the same page

If you can't agree on what to spend, where to save, employment, etc- it's not going to work- especially if it is all being put on one person.

I will never again let someone else pull or try to pull the strings with my money or credit.

[sarcasticgirl]

Nov 7, 2011 16:03:26 GMT -5 @babble said:

Nov 7, 2011 15:41:11 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

Funny thing... my living expenses were LOWER when i was living single.
I thought it would be awesome when DH and i moved in together because i'd save so much money. boy was i wrong!

Did your rent/mortgage double?
I could see utilities going up a little, but not twice as much.
Did DH pay half of the living expenses?

I thought having two incomes would make it easier to budget.

actually yes. i went from living in a tiny 1 bedroom where my utilities were next to nothing. we got a bigger place, we'd have killed each other living in 600 sq ft. utilities were over double (i didn't have to pay for heat before, and my electricity was minimal since i was on the 14th floor) add in DH's sports channels and the cable went super high. food budget is more than double what i used to spend... and my transit is higher. DH actually pays more than half, we contribute the same percentage of our pay and he makes more than i do.

logically... it should be cheaper. but for me, totally not the truth, unfortunately.

[Sharon]

I have been amazed that since DD left for college my electric bill has dropped by 1/4. One less computer, less laundry, less showers etc. It will be interesting to see what happens to the natural gas bill. I have an programmable thermostat and since she is gone I have 2 1/2 hours less per day that I need to heat the house.

[NastyWoman]

Nov 7, 2011 21:26:28 GMT -5 @cheapcat said:

I do agree that 2 can live cheaper than one. DH & I lived in a 500 square foot 1 bedroom apartment while we were saving up to buy a house. We didn't have cable, we used to watch movies or the few TV stations that came in with an antenna. We split all the bills, and it was cheaper than when we each had our own place. I think the problem is that most people will allow the idea of 2 paychecks to inflate their standard of living.

[HappyCat]

sarcasticgirl: I'm just curious (...and you know what that does to a cat!)...but how does living on the 14th floor = minimal electricity?

[bluecluessubtlety]

That last sentence is vitally important. If two singles fully support themselves and then merge homes, they should be able to live much cheaper and theoretically bank one whole income. But most couples combine households and take on additional expenses they didn't have before, oftentimes being in worse financial shape than before.

[econstudent]

Nov 7, 2011 21:48:08 GMT -5 HappyCat said:

sarcasticgirl: I'm just curious (...and you know what that does to a cat!)...but how does living on the 14th floor = minimal electricity?

Whenever we've been sandwiched in between apartments, our electricity bill has been really low, especially in the winter. The other apartments helped keep us warm so we didn't need to turn our heat on much.

[midjd]

Our housing payment is the only constant... everything else doubles with DH around. Twice as many dishes, twice as many dirty clothes, twice as much food... he has a lower tolerance for "extreme" temperatures so the heat is on 65 instead of 60... he also has a habit of leaving lights on . We both drive (in opposite directions) to work, so twice as much gas, cost to insure an extra vehicle, maintenance...

I'd say if I was living by myself, my expenses would be about half to two-thirds what they are currently. I don't deny that having 2 incomes helps, but it's not nearly as cut-and-dried as "twice the income, same expenses"...

[twinmama85]

Maybe you have too much house/rent and that is why it seems more unbearable?

[reeneejune]

My thought is that two incomes = more options. Yes, expenses go up. But if I have to take an unpaid sick day, there's a lesser impact when there are two incomes in the house than when there is only one.

And as for apartments, how is this for stupid: a one bedroom apartment in my area is more expensive than a two bedroom. And that's assuming you can find a one bedroom to begin with.

[sarcasticgirl]

Nov 7, 2011 21:56:02 GMT -5 econstudent said:

Nov 7, 2011 21:48:08 GMT -5 HappyCat said:

sarcasticgirl: I'm just curious (...and you know what that does to a cat!)...but how does living on the 14th floor = minimal electricity?

Whenever we've been sandwiched in between apartments, our electricity bill has been really low, especially in the winter. The other apartments helped keep us warm so we didn't need to turn our heat on much.

yup that. i had units below and above me AND on either side. so only 1 wall of my apartment was exposed to outside. it kept the temp pretty constant. i could open a window at night if i needed it cooler/warmer.

[daisylu]

We both lived in the same LCOLA before marriage. He made more money than me, and his mortgage reflected that. We were both always capable of paying our bills separately, but combining incomes did give us more freedoms and disposable income. Our LCOLA area made it easy to survive separately.

His mortgage was/is $450/month, while mine was $400/month. #idunno#

[sarcasticgirl]

Nov 7, 2011 21:49:19 GMT -5 bluecluessubtlety said:

That last sentence is vitally important. If two singles fully support themselves and then merge homes, they should be able to live much cheaper and theoretically bank one whole income. But most couples combine households and take on additional expenses they didn't have before, oftentimes being in worse financial shape than before.

that is assuming that the two singles live within the same means. DH always paid way more than i did. his rent was higher, his utilities were higher and his food bill was waaay higher... so right now, his cost of living is about the same as it was when he lived alone. MINE has increased.

the only new expense we added was a car (neither of us had one) and a pet (both of which cost less than $300/month combined).

[sarcasticgirl]

Nov 8, 2011 10:50:07 GMT -5 daisylu said:

We both lived in the same LCOLA before marriage. He made more money than me, and his mortgage reflected that. We were both always capable of paying our bills separately, but combining incomes did give us more freedoms and disposable income. Our LCOLA area made it easy to survive separately.

His mortgage was/is $450/month, while mine was $400/month.

WOW. i can't even fathom housing for that price! that rocks!

[babble]

Here are my thoughts:

A house payment is $700. If one person lives there that one person pays $700. If two adults live there, it is $350 each.
House Insurance is $600 a year. That is $600 for one person, but $300 each for two people.
Electric bill is $100 a month; it might go up $25 if another person lives in said house. Instead of the one person paying $100, they would be paying $62.50. (well water = no water bill)
Home phone & cable bill would stay the same. Cell phone is same too but may decrease if the two people get on a shared plan.
One person would pay $800 for lp gas (heat), and assuming the heat bill goes up a little, two people would pay $450 each.
My grocery bill would stay the same because the other person would have his own grocery bill.

I am lost ?? How would it cost more ??

(I would not live with someone that did not share expenses.)

[sarcasticgirl]

you are assuming that everything stays the same. but not everyone lives in a house as a single person and then lives in the SAME house as a non-single.


The small (1100 sq ft) townhouse we live in now is more than double the cost of my tiny apartment that barely had enough space for me.
as a single person, i lived with exactly the space i NEEDED for me and only me. neither me or DH lived in a place that could comfortably accommodate 2 people. in fact, i had to move into his place for 3 weeks before we got a bigger place and most of my stuff had to go into storage and his place was complete chaos for those 3 weeks because there simply was not enough space. i'm pretty certain we came close to killing each other a few times!

[bluecluessubtlety]

Nov 8, 2011 11:32:57 GMT -5 @babble said:

I am lost ?? How would it cost more ??

(I would not live with someone that did not share expenses.)

In theory, it shouldn't. As you outlined, some money should be saved.

But for the points mentioned (having to get a larger place, increased things bought together, raising the standard of living) many times it does.

[skubikky]

Nov 8, 2011 11:32:57 GMT -5 @babble said:

Here are my thoughts:

A house payment is $700. If one person lives there that one person pays $700. If two adults live there, it is $350 each.
House Insurance is $600 a year. That is $600 for one person, but $300 each for two people.
Electric bill is $100 a month; it might go up $25 if another person lives in said house. Instead of the one person paying $100, they would be paying $62.50. (well water = no water bill)
Home phone & cable bill would stay the same. Cell phone is same too but may decrease if the two people get on a shared plan.
One person would pay $800 for lp gas (heat), and assuming the heat bill goes up a little, two people would pay $450 each.
My grocery bill would stay the same because the other person would have his own grocery bill.

I am lost ?? How would it cost more ??

(I would not live with someone that did not share expenses.)

Are you talking about married couples/co-habitating couples or are you talking about roommates?

If you want to reduce your living costs, get a roommate. If you want to have a husband to live with, get married. I don't understand your gripe?

Are you griping that you're not married or that you have to pay all your own expenses as a single person with a home?

[bring in the new year]

Nov 8, 2011 11:32:57 GMT -5 @babble said:

Here are my thoughts:

A house payment is $700. If one person lives there that one person pays $700. If two adults live there, it is $350 each.
House Insurance is $600 a year. That is $600 for one person, but $300 each for two people.
Electric bill is $100 a month; it might go up $25 if another person lives in said house. Instead of the one person paying $100, they would be paying $62.50. (well water = no water bill)
Home phone & cable bill would stay the same. Cell phone is same too but may decrease if the two people get on a shared plan.
One person would pay $800 for lp gas (heat), and assuming the heat bill goes up a little, two people would pay $450 each.
My grocery bill would stay the same because the other person would have his own grocery bill.

I am lost ?? How would it cost more ??

(I would not live with someone that did not share expenses.)

Because you're thinking about a roommate situation and then asking about a spousal situation.

Even I, another single woman, know it's not the same thing.

[bring in the new year]

What skubikky said.

I've got to say I don't understand the concerns about making the bills alone. I've been on my own since I was 25 (and supporting a house since I was 22) and it's just a fact of life. I bought a house knowing it would only be me (sparing a miracle) and I've always taken care of it. I worried about that stuff before I bought.

Where I envy/mock married couples is the chore load. I used to listen to men bitch about yard work & mowing and women bitch about housework & laundry and each complain the other spouse didn't do enough.

Hey, I came home and was responsible for both sets of chores. Don't complain to me.

Then I discovered, my house cleaner & my lawn guy and now, I just live my little own unfrugal life perfectly happily.

[jando]

twice baked bridget = you are now my inspiration. I am very tempted to hire someone to do yard work next summer because I just could NOT keep up this summer. It's time to make some changes. If I want that to happen, I need to be more frugal.

[sarcasticgirl]

Where I envy/mock married couples is the chore load. I used to listen to men bitch about yard work & mowing and women bitch about housework & laundry and each complain the other spouse didn't do enough.

we don't have a yard, but we split the housework. I'm pretty sure i do just as much just doing my half as i did doing it ALL when i lived alone. but that's mostly because i'm a big OCD on things being clean and DH is messier than i am. when i lived alone, i didn't wash the sink/vanity daily because DH can't seem to rinse all the toothpaste when he brushes his teeth. i never had to walk around the house picking up dirty socks before, or scrub dishes that didn't get rinsed out before getting thrown in the sink.
but i also never have to take out the trash or do the dusting, which i HATE. so i certainly won't be doing much complaining!


karma to you for hiring other people to help! that's creating jobs! lol

[babble]

Isn't it true that your lawn grows twice as fast when you get married?