E47: The 'Singles Tax' - how much is it costing you? With Bobby Seagull MBE, Emma Barnes, and Valentina Adaldo
The Pension Confident PodcastShow Notes
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 MBE; 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: Episode transcript (Blog) 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
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