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LONE WOLF: New research reveals the number of Brits living alone has more than doubled in the last four decades

IT SEEMS we are victims of the ‘Bridget Jones effect’ as more Brits are living alone now than in the 70s.

According to research from protection specialist LV=, the number of Brits living alone has more than doubled in the last 40 years, proving that the way we live has dramatically changed.

Since 1974, the amount of people living alone has increased from 3.8 million to 8.7 million.

Professor Lynn Jamieson, who is an expert in the sociology of families and relationships, says “living alone at young-to-middle-age is highest in countries where it is normal for young people to live independently of parents, co-residence with a partner is delayed and rates of couples separating are high.”

Professor Jamieson who co-wrote, Living Alone: Globalization, Identity and Belonging, also says that most 25-44-year-olds currently living alone, only imagined a temporary phase following the separation with a partner.

However, “over time, living with a partner can become less attractive and the benefits of living alone seem hard to give up.”

The study also shows that not only are more people living alone, but for longer too.

Those in their 60s and 70s today, will live alone for 10 years over the course of their life while today’s young adults (aged 20-30) can expect to live alone for a total of 15 years.

This can be due to a combination of people living longer and lifestyle changes such as marrying later and higher divorce rates.

While rising divorce rates do contribute to this trend, of those living alone, 49 per cent do so either because they enjoy their independence, don’t feel ready to live with somebody else or prefer to live alone to help focus on their career.

FEELING THE PINCH: Those living alone will fork out almost £2000 a year more on housing and utilities

Tameeka Jones, who has lived by herself for over fifteen years, tells Life & Style that she would “hate” to live with someone else.

Jones, 41 says: “Living alone doesn’t make me anti-social or a lonely spinster, I just like it this way.

“I would hate to live with someone else, and have to argue about who’s going into the bathroom first or who gets to have control of the remote control.”

Jones, who is in a long-term relationship, adds: “We’ve been together for seven years, and we’re really in love.
“We spend the odd night at each other’s homes, but we both prefer to have our own space. It doesn’t affect our relationship at all.”

The reality of living alone means that solo dwellers are faced with the full burden of the household’s living costs.

People living alone fork out almost £2,000 a year more on housing and utilities than an individual in a couple - even with the single person’s council tax discount given to those living alone factored in.

Richard Rowney, LV= managing director of the life and pensions department says: “Whilst the freedom of living alone has many advantages, it is important to realise the financial cost of independence.”

He continues: “As 8.7 million people now live alone, that is a huge number of people in the UK who would find themselves in a vulnerable position if they lost their source of income.”

Natasha Bridgewood, 27, from Greenwich, south east London, was forced to move out of the flat she shared with her partner, after they split. The part-time retail manager now lives alone, and is “struggling” to deal with the costs.

Bridgewood said: “I lived with my ex-boyfriend for three years and we split the costs of everything. Now that I’m living by myself, I’ve seen how everything adds up, and I’m struggling to be honest.”

The impact of having to spend more on the cost of living means that singletons have less money to spend on dining out, shopping and leisure activities, and less to put aside as savings.

Bridgewood added: “I find myself making excuses when my friends ask me out, because I don’t have the extra cash.”