The ‘tax on being single’ revealed in new survey

Personal FinanceLifestyle
11 Aug 2025 • 2:25 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

  • A new survey reveals that one in five young adults in the UK, aged 18 to 40, are choosing to live with a partner primarily to manage living costs more affordably.
  • The research highlights a significant financial disparity, with single individuals less likely to have an emergency fund (29 per cent) compared to those in a relationship (16 per cent).
  • Single savers put aside an average of £301 per month, which is roughly half the £609 saved by those in a relationship, underscoring increased financial strain for single people.
  • Jim Islam, CEO of Lifetime Isa provider OneFamily, suggested that some individuals might be staying in unhappy relationships due to the high cost of living, describing it as a "tax on being single."
  • Mr Islam stressed the importance of financial independence and good savings habits, advocating for these topics to be taught in schools to build financial resilience.

IN FULL