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One in every three households in the UK is now single occupancy. Here's the issue: being single could be costing you more. The so-called 'Singles Tax' is real. Cohabiting couples pay less per person on everything from energy bills to hotel rooms. So if you're single, or living alone, how much extra are you paying and what can you do about it?

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert panel as they discuss the 'Singles Tax':

• Maths Teacher turned Broadcaster, Bobby Seagull;
• Content Creator, Emma Barnes;
• Senior eCRM Manager at PensionBee; Valentina Adaldo.

Episode breakdown

05:18 Flatmates vs. living alone trade-offs

08:02 'Houses before spouses' movement

10:48 Redundancy when single hits harder

14:40 Building your own financial safety net

15:09 Savings hacks for couples vs. singles

18:17 Wedding season costs and pooling gifts

23:42 Saving for retirement while single

25:59 Money tips for savvy singletons

Further reading and listening

To learn more about the 'Singles Tax', check out these articles and podcasts from PensionBee:

• E14: What's the impact of your relationship status on your finances? (Podcast)
• E27: What's the cost of friendship? (Podcast)
• E37: The easiest way to retire with more money (Podcast)
• How much should I pay into my pension? (Article)
• How to tackle your personal finances when you're single (Blog)
• How to talk to your partner about money (Blog)
• Six ways to put together your emergency fund (Blog)
• What is compound interest? (Blog)
• What's the financial impact of multi-generational living? (Blog)

Other useful resources

• Emergency savings – how much is enough? (MoneyHelper)
• "Singles tax" leaves half struggling with retirement savings: research (Corporate Adviser)
• The price of love: how much does dating cost – and who pays the bill? (The Guardian)
• The Retirement Living Standards (Pensions UK)
• The single surcharge: single Brits pay extra £3,844 a year for household bills (Uswitch)
• The 'single tax' revealed: What's the true cost of being single? (Finder)
• The solo penalty, from rent to holidays: 'Being single is costing me £12,000 extra a year' (The Guardian)

Catch up on the latest news, read our transcripts or watch on YouTube:

• The Pension Confident Podcast
• The Pension Confident Podcast on YouTube

Follow PensionBee (@PensionBee) on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Threads.

Follow Bobby Seagull (@bobby_seagull) on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Threads.

Follow Emma Barnes (@emmaebarnes) on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.