{
  "id": 151739,
  "title": "The cost of being single – and how friends are teaming up to beat it",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/the-cost-of-being-single-and-how-friends-are-teaming-up-to-beat-it-151739",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-04T23:21:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Business",
    "slug": "bbc-business",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly7dqprlnvo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Single life comes with a hidden tax, requiring couples to pay more for various expenses. The cost of rent, mortgage, bills, and subscriptions can't be split, and discounts often require partnership. With over 18 million unmarried people in the UK, the need to share expenses is more prevalent than ever.\n\nLeanne and Sarah, both single, decided to buy a home together. They were wary at first, but after consulting a mortgage adviser, they went ahead with the purchase. The cost of living as a single person can be high, with some estimates suggesting it could be a few hundred pounds to £10,000 extra per year. However, buying together allowed them to cut costs, share responsibilities, and afford a home sooner.\n\nTheir agreement included a minimum two-year stay, a proportional split of mortgage payments, and a detailed declaration of trust. They also shared household bills and meals, with Sarah keeping track of expenses. Four years after moving in, they sold the house for a profit, using the equity for their next separate purchases. Sarah believes they would have eventually been able to afford a home on their own, but the financial benefit of buying together made it possible much sooner.\n\nInspired by their success, friend Philly created Cucoon, an online platform that helps singles find potential house-buying partners. Sarah thinks the single life is like a constant review of one's costs, and shared living arrangements can level the playing field. Julia Pearson, another single, also shares costs with friends, including car insurance and gardening tools. She believes society is becoming more socially oriented in terms of sharing, and there are various ways to save money by being resourceful.",
  "summary": "Many singles face extra costs for housing, bills, food and holidays but there are ways to ease the burden.",
  "key_points": [
    "Single life incurs hidden tax, requiring couples to pay more for various expenses.",
    "Leanne and Sarah buy home together, cutting costs and sharing responsibilities.",
    "Cucoon platform helps singles find house-buying partners."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Singles are finding ways to offset the financial burden of solo living by teaming up with friends to share expenses, from mortgages to household bills, and gain a financial foothold.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "The cost of being single – and how friends are teaming up to beat it",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/the-cost-of-being-single-and-how-friends-are-teaming-up-to-beat-it",
        "published": "2026-08-04T23:21:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}