Being single is already hard enough without life charging you an additional fee for it. 😂
People love talking about the freedom that comes with being single.
You can make your own decisions. You don’t have to check in with anybody. You can sleep across the entire bed, choose what you want for dinner, and watch whatever you want without somebody asking why you started the next episode without them.
And yes, that freedom can be nice.
But do you know what else comes with being single?
Every. Single. Bill. By yourself.
There is no second income quietly entering the household. There is no person to split the rent with, no partner covering the electric bill while you handle the groceries, and nobody to send half when an unexpected expense appears out of nowhere.
It is just you, your bank account, and a collection of companies waiting for their money.
Rent does not care that only one person lives there.
The electric company does not offer a “single and trying their best” discount.
Car insurance does not accept emotional support as payment.
Groceries are somehow expensive whether you are feeding one person or five. Half the food seems packaged for a family, and the smaller portions sometimes cost nearly as much as the larger ones. You either pay too much for a little bit of food or buy more and pray you eat it before it starts growing something in the refrigerator.
Then there is transportation.
If your car breaks down, there is no second car in the household. If you need to get somewhere, you are paying for the Uber, Lyft, bus pass, gas, repair, or whatever else is required to keep your life moving.
And if you cannot afford it?
Life basically looks at you and says, “Well…figure it out.” 😭
Being single can feel like having all the responsibilities of a two-income household without the second income.
That is the part people do not always talk about.
When couples move in together, they may be able to divide expenses. Even if the arrangement is not perfectly equal, there are still two people contributing something. One person can occasionally carry more when the other is struggling.
Single adults do not automatically have that safety net.
If I have a bad month, I cannot turn to an imaginary husband and say, “Baby, can you handle this one?” Trust me—I have checked. He is not here. 😂
Every emergency becomes your emergency.
Every shortage becomes your problem to solve.
Every unexpected charge comes directly out of the same money you were already using to cover everything else.
And somehow, the advice is always to budget better.
Budget what?
People act like every financial struggle comes from buying too much coffee or ordering food. Sometimes the problem is not that you are irresponsible. Sometimes there genuinely is not enough money left after paying for the things required to remain alive.
You cannot budget your way out of rent being high.
You cannot coupon your way out of needing insurance.
You cannot skip enough iced coffees to magically create a second income.
There is only so much cutting back a person can do before there is nothing left to cut.
Single adults also seem to miss out on many of the financial benefits built around couples and families.
Housing is easier to afford with two incomes. Family phone plans can lower the cost per person. Couples can share furniture, subscriptions, transportation, household supplies, and even responsibilities.
Meanwhile, one person still needs an entire refrigerator, stove, bed, couch, and internet connection. Nobody sells half a washing machine because only one person will use it.
You still need a whole home.
You just have one income to build and maintain it.
Then people ask why single adults are not traveling more, saving more, buying houses, or “living their best lives.”
With what money, beloved? The money went to surviving. 😂
And I am not saying relationships should exist only to make life cheaper. Please do not go find somebody you cannot stand just because they have a good credit score and are willing to split the Wi-Fi bill.
A relationship is not a financial assistance program.
But we can admit that having a trustworthy partner often makes the practical parts of adulthood easier. Two people working toward the same goals have more room to divide the weight.
When you are single, there is nobody automatically assigned to help carry yours.
Of course, some single people earn enough to live comfortably. Some couples are financially struggling. Being in a relationship does not guarantee stability.
But it is fair to admit that covering every necessity with one income can feel like life is charging you a single-person tax.
So yes, single life can be peaceful.
It can be freeing.
It can even be fun.
But inexpensive?
Absolutely not.
—Karinna Sorelle ♥