Do we discriminate against single people?

From single supplements to missing out on special offers, we ask whether those of us who are single pay unfairly over the odds

Nearly half of all adults in the UK are either single, widowed or divorced

Ever since Yours reader Jill Hunt wrote to us to say how frustrating she finds it buying meals for one, we’ve been wondering about the hidden costs of living alone. Her sentiments were echoed by another reader, Valerie Poole, who lamented receiving vouchers for afternoon tea for two, but never just for one person. Nearly half of all adults in the UK are either single, widowed or divorced with people living alone in one in every 3.5 households, according to the latest statistics. It’s a figure that’s grown over the past decade and yet, whether you’re single by choice or circumstance, it seems those who live alone are paying more than ever before. Housing costs are the most obvious example with no-one to split the mortgage, rent and bills. According to research from LV= singletons spend £1,826 a year more on housing and utilities than couples, even accounting for the single person’s Council Tax rebate. Singles also miss out on the marriage tax allowance where couples can transfer £1,000 of their personal tax allowance to their partner, thought to make couples £200 a year better off. With car insurance, single people on average pay more than couples, with a Which? report recently finding eight out of 12 leading insurers varied premiums by as much as ten per cent, according to the driver’s marital status, apparently because married couples are thought to be ‘lower risk’. Holidays are another big gripe, as anyone who’s ever fallen foul of the dreaded ‘single supplement’ knows. This premium is charged for the ‘luxury’ of not sharing a room, partly because companies view single people as less profitable, with only one person buying drinks, food and entertainment, compared to a couple. Lastly, as Jill and Valerie pointed out, it’s hard to take advantage of special offers and multi-pack or family deals as a single person. While you can obviously ask a friend to help use two-for-one offers, it’s not always possible when you’re in the supermarket looking for a meal deal, whereas a discounted multipack of perishable food isn’t appropriate for someone on their own. There are ways single people pay less – on lower water and food bills and by having no financial dependants – but overall, we think it’s time to make more provision for people living alone who are fed up of having to pay over the odds.

What do you think?