living alone

6 Ways Living Alone Affects Your Health

Paul Michael — Wed, 09 May 2018 08:00:25 +0000

Some people love living with others. They like having family or roommates, and a home that's occupied by more than one person. Other people prefer their own space, and maybe that's who you are. You like the solitude. You love the freedom. But living this way can be both beneficial and hazardous to your health.

1. You can be yourself

Anyone who has lived with roommates knows it's tough to be completely yourself. Differing opinions on everything from politics and food, to movies and music, means that compromise is a must. In a marriage or other living arrangement, it's much the same. You both have to make compromises to keep the other person from getting peeved.

But when you live alone, all bets are off. Want to decorate the living room to look like the set of Star Wars? Go ahead. Want wooden floors throughout? Do it. Want to replace the sofa with a bunch of giant bean bags? Your call.

This kind of freedom is incredibly beneficial to your mental health. There's no stress about keeping someone else happy. And less stress leads to better overall health. (See also: 20 Free (or Really Cheap) Ways to Relieve Stress)

2. It's easier to create healthy habits

With no one else in sharing your space, there are fewer distractions and excuses keeping you from getting into healthier routines. If you decide to eat healthier, it's hard to stick to that regimen when someone in the house is eating doughnuts and cooking bacon. Or if you have a partner who doesn't want to work out with you, it can be tough to find the time to get away for a sweat session on your own. Living alone gives you the freedom to work out on your own schedule, and stock your fridge with nothing but non-processed and fresh foods. (See also: 25 Low-Cost Foods Packed With Nutrition)

3. You sleep better

If you're actually sleeping next to someone in the same bed, your nights will not be as restful as if you were sleeping alone. The other person is going to move around, make noises, and ultimately crowd your space. Even though you may not feel like you're waking up, your body and mind can be constantly getting stimuli that stop you from entering the most important part of the sleep cycle — deep sleep. This stage (three in a series of four) occurs just before Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, with your brain and body activity dropping to the lowest point, and blood being redirected from the brain to the muscles. If you don't ever make it to this stage due to the constant interruptions, you won't feel as rested when you wake up.

Even if you aren't actually sharing a bed with your housemate, you can still be disturbed from your slumber. Loud roommates can rob you of precious sleep, too, which can lead to lower productivity at work, increased stress, and poor eating habits. (See also: How Getting More Sleep Helps Your Finances)

4. You can feel isolated to the point of depression

At first, the idea of living alone can be glorious. No rules but your own. No noise from anyone else. No messes to clean that other people left behind. It's all you, baby. But then it can hit you like a hammer; it's all you. No one to talk to about your day. No one to watch TV with. No one to cook for, and enjoy a meal with. And for some, this realization can lead to feelings of loneliness.

Studies have linked loneliness to low self-esteem, depression, high blood pressure, and the increased risk of dementia in later years. Humans are naturally social creatures, and we need some interaction to feel balanced. Without it, life can start to look bleak.

5. You have to do everything yourself

Need help bringing in the groceries? You're on your own. Need a hand shoveling the driveway? You're on your own. Need someone to steady that ladder? You're on your own. And on it goes. Living alone means you have to rely on yourself for almost everything. Sure, you can ask a friend or a neighbor now and again, but you certainly can't abuse that privilege. You could also hire a TaskRabbit or pay to have someone else run all your errands and outsource your housework, but few have the money to afford that. That can bring physical stresses and challenges that take their toll on your body. From backbreaking work in the garden, to painting, lifting, moving furniture, and cleaning, your health can take a beating when you do everything yourself.

6. You're not as safe

There are numerous ways that living alone can affect your safety. When you're sick, there's no one there to take care of you or check on your well-being. You may not even have the ability to call someone for help, especially if you fall or have a serious medical problem. And when you're alone, you'll also have to defend yourself alone against intruders. For this reason, it's recommended that anyone living alone should take extra steps to secure their safety. Strong deadbolts, motion-sensing lights, and an alarm system can help provide a little more peace of mind.

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Easy Budgeting for First Time Singles

Ashley Eneriz — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 10:31:03 +0000

As many as 28% of Americans live by themselves. Whether you are venturing out on your own after college, or life circumstances have forced you to live alone (i.e. divorce, kids leaving the nest, etc.), it can be hard to switch your saving and spending mentality to "party of one."

Keep these budgeting tips in mind as you navigate the financial waters by yourself:

1. Start With an Emergency Fund

Dave Ramsey likes to start with the emergency fund, and I wholeheartedly agree. In my own experience, it seemed as if costly instances were always popping up when I had zero emergency fund and was living paycheck to paycheck.

I remember trying to reach that $1,000 saving mark for my emergency fund, thinking it was the most impossible thing ever (hey, I was only 21 making very little money). I remember when I finally reached that mark, the emergency fund stayed at $1,000 and life's little inconveniences seemed to be easier to handle.

If you have no emergency fund, then your first financial goal should be a $1,000 fund. After that is established, you want to add a little bit of money to your account each month to save up one month of living expenses, then three months, then six months. This money will keep you protected against a job loss or unexpected medical emergency.

2. Budget for the Fun Stuff

When all of the financial responsibilities sit on your shoulders, it can become so easy to forget to treat yourself and to budget in the fun stuff. No matter how tight your budget is, you need to leave a little wiggle room for mental health. Living frugally and on a strict budget can be amazing, but it can also grow tiresome month after month. What is the point of cutting your grocery budget to less than $30 a week if you are just miserable?

Dream big for a second. What would you do or where would you go this minute if you had the money? Perhaps you would buy yourself a fancy pair of shoes or take a weekend trip to Italy. Whatever it is, don't ignore this desire. Instead, research how much it will cost and create a financial road map to get there. Your dream vacation could only be a year or two away with a smart budgeting plan.

3. Evaluate What You Really Need to Buy

Before you get excited about being on your own and buy everything in Bed, Bath, and Beyond, think a moment. Most basic items, such as can openers, dishes, and other must-haves for the home can be found inexpensively. Many of your family members and friends have extra dishes or kitchen gear that they never use. Ask them to borrow it. You might be surprised how generous people are when it comes to getting rid of extra stuff.

If you can't score any freebies, then check local thrift stores and yard sales. There is no reason to spend $50 on a plate set when you can score one at a thrift store or yard sale for $5 or less.

Another tip is to buy as you realize the need. When I moved into my first place, I didn't realize how many items were needed to just make and eat a basic meal. However, I also realized that a lot of kitchen gadgets aren't necessities. For example, a pie server or salt and pepper shakers are nice to have, but you can easily make it work without them.

4. Budget Before You Move and After

Before you sign the lease on your apartment or rental, crunch the numbers. Is your budget going to be tight? You might have to rethink where you live to better fit your budget. After you move in, evaluate how you are doing with your budget. Are you struggling to stick with it a month or three after moving on your own? These are little red flags that signify a change is needed, either a decrease in expenses or an increase in income.

5. Control Groceries and Eating Out

One of the trickiest things to budget for when you are alone is food. This is especially true if you are used to shopping or cooking for more people. Start with a loose meal plan. This doesn't have to be anything fancy or time-consuming, just plan out what you are going to eat for the week. For example, on Monday, you will eat oatmeal and coffee for breakfast, a sandwich and chips for lunch, and pasta and meatballs for dinner.

As you plan out each meal, coordinate your shopping list. As you cook for dinners, you can either cook enough to have lunch the next day, or you can freeze a portion of your meal for later use. This will save you time and prevent you from wasting food. (See also: Save Money and Eat Better With These 6 Online Meal Planners)

6. Automate Your Finances

Another way to make sure that you stay on top of your finances is to look for apps that will help you automate your finances. For example, Acorns helps you to invest automatically, and Mint and Empower will help you budget with very little time and thinking. Schedule your bills to be paid after your payday to ensure your account does not go into overdraft.

Some sites will even let you schedule monthly payments to landlords. Just be sure to still look over statements if you switch to automatic payments. You want to ensure that you are not overcharged for anything. (See also: 5 Ways to Automate Your Finances)

Like many things, living alone has a learning curve. Don't let a bad month have you running to credit cards or family for help.

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This article is from Ashley Eneriz of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Frugal Hacks for Single Living

Qiana Chavaia — Thu, 05 May 2016 09:00:09 +0000

Getting a roommate may be a surefire way to save money, but sharing a living space isn’t the ideal scenario for everyone. For instance, you're in medical school or law school and need plenty of quiet time to study and rest. You're a single parent and don't want another person's influence on your kids. You're recently divorced and want to entertain friends and guests. These are all good reasons to want to live alone. However, living alone doesn't mean you must forgo frugality.

Here are 10 frugal living hacks for anyone who prefers to live alone.

1. Live, Work, and Play in the Same Neighborhood

Major city centers are ripe with live, work, and play communities, but it shouldn't matter in what area you live. You should be able to carve out the right balance to conveniently commute between work and home and find activities in your area that keep you balanced.

2. Rent a (Spacious) Studio Apartment

Save on rent by renting a studio unit instead of a conventional one-bedroom. And if you live in anything larger than that, downsize and rent it out to sock away the extra savings. I understand there are reasons one might want to purchase a three-bedroom home, but until you're ready to start using all those rooms, be smart.

3. Rent in a Building With Luxury Amenities

For an extra couple hundred bucks per month, you could rent the same apartment in a nicer building. If you're a fitness buff, rent an apartment in a building that has a gym (pool, racquetball, etc.) and save by not needing a sports club membership. The building might have a business center, which could be great if you work from home. Or, the property could have a car sharing program and other luxurious money-saving amenities. Meanwhile, it's a great way to network and get acquainted with neighbors, which could one day lead to business.

4. Cook Meals

Pizza is perhaps the cheapest dine-out meal you can buy. But it doesn’t matter how you slice it, preparing meals at home is the best way to go. Although you will be cooking for one, it still makes sense to prepare meals at home and take leftovers to work the next day.

5. Buy in Bulk

As someone living alone, it doesn’t always make sense to buy in bulk, but it may be smart to grab family packs of non-perishable foods and meats. Separate meats into smaller quantities of two to four, and freeze them in freezer bags. Now, you only need to do major shopping once per month for minor things, like fresh veggies, bread, and dairy. (See also: Save Big at These 4 Discount Supermarkets)

6. Take Public Transit

When you live and work in the same community, you eliminate the need for a car, and in the case of most major cities, the cost of a parking space. On occasions when you do need a car to visit family or weekend getaways, use a ride sharing program like Zipcar or Uber. It will give you peace of mind and save you time and money. Not to mention, some transit services offer perks that include discounts around the city. For instance, using Philadelphia's SEPTA Pass Perks includes discounts on Zipcars, attractions, restaurants, and more. (See also: Car Sharing: Why Own When You Can Just Share?)

7. Ditch Cable Subscriptions

Don't get bullied into expensive cable subscriptions that will cost at least $100 per month. Cable providers now try to rope subscribers into package deals, where at first glance it actually appears to make more sense. Really, how often are you going to be home to utilize a cable subscription? Netflix it instead. Netflix subscriptions start at $7.99 per month. For Internet, consider an Internet-only provider and don't pay more than it's worth.

8. Sign Up for Discounts

Just because you live alone doesn't mean you shouldn't be a frugal shopper and sign up for in-store discount savings programs. Also join a program like AAA and save at hundreds of merchants, including on rental cars, hotel stays, restaurants, attractions, and more. They even offer discounts with area cell phone, Internet, and cable service providers.

9. Check Out Intuit's Benefit Assist

NOTE: Intuit Benefit Assist is no longer available.

Use Intuit's Benefit Assist to find out if you qualify for discounted health insurance, reduced utility bills, low-cost cell phone service, cheap auto insurance, and/or have unclaimed money laying around. The website says you could qualify for as much as $2,000 in benefits.

10. Put Yourself on a Budget

It's easy to overspend when there's no one to think about or care for other than yourself. That can cause people living alone to overspend on activities and shopping. Be mindful of your spending habits and put yourself on a budget. Although you're on your own, you shouldn't need to spend more than $50 to $100 per week on miscellaneous things. What you save could be going towards your retirement. (See also: Build Your First Budget in 5 Easy Steps)

Live alone? What frugal tricks do you use to contain your spend?

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This article is from Qiana Chavaia of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Live Alone Without Going Broke

Jennifer Holder — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 09:48:44 +0000

After sharing a four-bedroom apartment with four people, a one-bedroom apartment with another person three separate times (I slept in the living room), and then a two-bedroom apartment with four people (which means sharing a bed), I have been living alone for over a year in a small studio apartment — and I love it. No, really. You have no idea how good it is to come and go as you please with no one around. But after this month, I'm moving in with a good friend, so I thought it was the perfect time to recount the many ways to be frugal while living alone. (See also: What to Do Before Moving in With Someone)

I should let you know — I live like a 13-year-old boy. If you walked into my apartment, you'd see a string of clothes pretty much everywhere, leading up to my bed, which will indubitably never be made, with me sitting in it, hunched over my computer watching Netflix and eating Totino's pizza rolls. In other words, I'm not the healthiest or cleanest person who lives alone, but I definitely am one of the cheapest.

1. Know Your Neighbors

This is extremely important, and will save you (hopefully) on an alarm system. Living alone can be scary, but knowing who you live around is of utmost importance. Make sure they know what you're doing and when (especially if you're going away for a long period of time). No need for them to become an everyday part of your life, but a little familiarity can go a long way.

2. Share the Internet

Yes, I understand that you live alone, but if you're in a one-bedroom or studio apartment, you most likely have close neighbors. I live in a home above my landlord and next to another studio apartment, and the three of us share the internet. The signal isn't the strongest, but it works well enough to save 66% in Internet bills and/or coffee from the local coffee shop.

3. Get a Library Card

I can understand boredom, but if you live alone, I can't justify having cable (unless your main source of income is writing about television shows, in which case, I would like to steal your job please). Library cards are free, and the libraries nowadays usually have a large supply of DVDs waiting to be rented. If you can't live without TV service, use Hulu or get a Netflix account.

4. Make Leftovers Your Favorite Meal

Everyone should plan out their dinners whether they live alone or not. That's a given. But I always talk to people who live alone who say, "I don't cook because there's no one to eat with me!" Well, you have you to eat with, and then you have you to eat with for lunch the next day, and if there are enough leftovers, lunch the day after that. In other words, leftovers are the best thing you can hope for when you live alone and want to save money.

5. Utilize Your Freezer

I have to admit, there's nothing worse than sharing a fridge and freezer with a roommate, especially if you have the same eating habits or your roommate is in a relationship with someone who doesn't understand labeling systems. But mostly, freezers are only so big and can only fit so much, so having it all to yourself is something to take advantage of. Also, you can freeze large amounts of soup, fresh fruit, meat, and more if you don't end up using it all.

6. Remember: Preservatives Aren't the Answer

And speaking of a freezer, don't buy all the crap that I buy just because it's cheap. There's a fine line between being frugal and not taking care of your body. And I have a terrible tendency to buy food that is terrible for me. Just because you live alone doesn't mean that you have to buy food that will never expire. Just plan ahead, and make sure you cook the perishables first, or freeze them. It will be just as cheap, and you'll feel better for it.

7. Buy in Bulk

When you run out of toilet paper when you live alone, you really run out of toilet paper. There's no one to hand you another roll or run to the store. You're screwed. So buying in bulk can be a cheaper and viable option.

8. Start an Herb Garden

Fresh herbs are expensive at the store, but they're super cheap to grow. My attempts at this failed miserably, because yet again I'm a 13-year-old boy who can't cook and only likes eating frozen pizza. So basically, I had a TON of basil. Like a bazillion bunches of basil, and I had no idea what to do with it. Shortly thereafter, it all died. So if you're going to have an herb garden, USE IT!

9. Get an Extra Job or Volunteer

I have two jobs, currently — a full-time job and a part-time one. The full-time is at a non-profit, and the part-time is at a local music venue. This is in addition to my occasional writing. I'm not suggesting an extra job is always the answer, but if you're bored and want someone to talk to, it beats going out and spending money on drinking or dining out or the other typical ways that people who are always alone spend loads of money. Volunteering is also a good way to go, as well. Sometimes you get free meals out of it! And I mean that in a totally altruistic way.

10. Make Sure You Have Enough Space to Work Out

You live alone, so your roommate won't get mad when you flip on the TV to a yoga video or all of a sudden do 50 crunches while watching "New Girl." (I have a tendency to do this because Schmidt is ALWAYS working out. I also sometimes drink whiskey during "Mad Men.") It's your space, so you can do whatever you want. Just make sure you have enough room to work out any time. Saves on the gym!

11. Have a Full-Sized Kitchen

You may be tempted by the price of a studio apartment with a kitchenette, but it really just means you'll eat out more. Having a full kitchen with more than a college-sized refrigerator and two stove burners can go a long way with both saving money and eating healthy. Go big, or don't move in.

If you live alone, how do you do it on the cheap?

This article is from Jennifer Holder of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: