Frugal Living for Singles

Frugal living for singles isn’t easy, but it can be done.

Tips on Frugal Living for Singles

If you’re trying to save money, you may be frustrated to find that many budgeting articles are written for families with children at home. Although some money-saving tips are universal, others need to be targeted to a person’s specific situation. WannaKnow Save is pleased to offer you a few tips on frugal living for singles.

Get a Roommate

Paying for rent, utilities, and other expenses on a single salary can be tricky, especially if you’re in an area with a high cost of living.

The best tip on frugal living for singles is to get a roommate. When you’re only paying half as much to keep a roof over your head, you’ll have a bit more wiggle room in your budget. Just remember to prepare a legal contract that specifies the terms of your living arrangement to avoid problems with a roommate who skips out on his or her fair share of the bills.

Plan Ahead for Meals

When you’re single, cooking a meal for one person often seems like a lot of unnecessary work. After a long day, it’s tempting to just stop for some fast food on the way home. However, home-cooked meals are much better for both your health and your wallet.

Here are a few helpful meal planning tips for singles:

• Think twice before buying in bulk. When you have a family to feed, buying in bulk can be a great way to save money. When it’s just you, however, bulk purchases often end up spoiling before they can be used. A better approach to grocery shopping is to use coupons to save money on smaller product sizes.
• Search the Internet for frugal dinner recipes designed to serve two people, or cut the ingredients in your favorite recipe in half. Making enough to have leftovers to take to work with you the next day is smart, or you could freeze leftovers to enjoy later.
• Whenever possible, choose one-dish meals that include meat, grains, and vegetables—such as vegetarian chili or a chicken, rice, and vegetable casserole. This is a quick and convenient way to enjoy a balanced meal.
• Plan your meals to take advantage of duplicate ingredients. For example, baked chicken breasts can be used in soup, sandwiches, or stir fry to make enough meals to last an entire week. This approach to cooking will drastically cut down on the amount of food you waste.

Seek Out Cheap Entertainment

Entertainment can take up a large part of your budget, especially if you’re single with an active social life. However, there are ways to cut costs in this area. For example:

• If you like to go to the movies, try going to a matinée instead. The tickets will usually be $3-to-$4 cheaper per person.
• Instead of going to a pricey restaurant with your friends, invite them to your apartment. You can order cheap takeout or each bring one dish to share.
• Look for free or low-cost plays, concerts, and special events at the nearest college or university.
• Sign up for e-mail newsletters from your favorite restaurants, movie theaters, or entertainment venues so you’ll always know about any special promotions or money saving offers.
• When you’re invited to a wedding or a birthday party, pair up with a single friend to split the cost of a gift.

Another simple way to save money when you’re out on the town is to leave your credit and debit cards at home. Decide how much you can afford to spend, then bring that amount in cash. Studies have consistently proven that people find it easier to stick to a budget when they must physically count out the cash for a purchase. Credit cards and debit cards make it too easy to overspend..