Does being single make one frugal?

[AnonymouslyIndebted]

I have some friends who are single and they're known to be frugal. I wish I could too, but does this statement applies to any of you guys as well?

 

I mean honestly, sometimes I feel like what I'm earning is not even enough to support me...less my family.

[Kevin20]

I have some friends who are single and they're known to be frugal. I wish I could too, but does this statement applies to any of you guys as well?

 

I mean honestly, sometimes I feel like what I'm earning is not even enough to support me...less my family.

 

 

I'm sure it varies greatly from person to person. There have been periods when I've spent too much and periods I've been extremely frugal. Being single certainly gives you more opportunity to be frugal if you have the discipline (living on beans, renting a crappy apartment etc -- doing things you wouldn't subject a family to.)

[nothingtolose]

IMHO social/eating out/entertainment spending is higher for single folks.

[Cane Sugar]

IMHO social/eating out/entertainment spending is higher for single folks.

 

Exactly. You have no one to answer to financially. You can be more spontaneous with eating out. When you want to cut back you don't really have to plan for it. You just do it. When I wanted to stop eating out as much I just ate cereal for dinner. I couldn't do that with my husband when we were married.

[Operation_Home_Ownership]

IMO, it doesnt make one more frugal, but if definitely gives one the ability to turn on a dime to switch up when making financial decisions, as there is no one else to consider.

[centex]

As others noted, the opportunity COULD be there...in some cases, having others in a household to split expenses with actually makes for more of an opportunity to save.

 

I can attest that there is far more money being spent on dining out while single than when I was in a relationship. I hate leftovers and tend to just go out for dinner.

[TroyP]

While I could be very frugal (as a single person) I think I'd spend less if I were more tied down. If my GF and I lived together I think we'd probably dine out less, and I might have a less active social life than I do now with roommates who are also unmarried guys in their 20s. We also go out and do things more often to avoid monopolizing the common areas in our homes.

 

There would certainly be some tax benefits if we were to get married, since she makes substantially less than I do.

[AnonymouslyIndebted]

Yeah, you all have some point there. I'm single and I am trying to lessen all my expenses. Sometimes when you get old, that's the time when you really learn how to manage your money.