Essex woman says living alone costs her £11,000 yearly more

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 16:29 · Archive

A 28-year-old Essex homeowner estimates she pays £11,000 more annually in household costs living alone than if she shared with a partner.

Amy Kibblewhite, 28, bought a one-bedroom flat in Chigwell, Essex for £375,000 and moved in July 2025. She estimates living alone costs her £11,000 more a year than if she had a partner, with the expenses she must shoulder entirely on her own.

Kibblewhite pays £22,800 a year covering her mortgage, bills, council tax and service charge. On top of this, she spends £4,800 a year on travel and commuting, along with her weekly food shop and subscriptions such as Netflix. Research suggests that single people can pay upwards of £10,000 more annually compared to those sharing a household.

Kibblewhite works in asset management and had been saving in tax-efficient accounts from the age of 18 while completing a business management apprenticeship. Before buying her flat, she lived with her mother and paid a reasonable rate in rent while building up her savings. She set up an automatic transfer to a savings account on payday to avoid touching the money.

Moving out and dealing with finances alone proved a significant shock, leaving her feeling overwhelmed and anxious about her outgoings. Speaking about the experience, Kibblewhite said: 'When you move out, you kind of just think of your mortgage or your rent as the main thing you're going to have to pay, but everything else drastically adds up. Whether it's service charge, council tax, water, electricity, gas. I was just looking at my mortgage payment thinking, I could do that. But I didn't work out what my bills were or anything else.'

Essex woman says living alone costs her £11,000 yearly more — Image: Colchester Gazette

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How it is being reported

Essex woman says 'single tax' is costing her £11,000 more per yearAmy Kibblewhite says the “single tax” costs her £11,000 more a year, as the Essex homeowner shares lessons on managing bills and living alone.Colchester Gazette · 19 Oct, 15:30
Essex woman says 'single tax' is costing her £11,000 more per yearAmy Kibblewhite says the “single tax” costs her £11,000 more a year, as the Essex homeowner shares lessons on managing bills and living alone.Brentwood Guardian · 19 Oct, 15:30
Essex woman says 'single tax' is costing her £11,000 more per yearAmy Kibblewhite says the “single tax” costs her £11,000 more a year, as the Essex homeowner shares lessons on managing bills and living alone.Echo (Basildon) · 19 Oct, 15:30
Essex woman pays £11,000 more a year living alone due to 'single tax'Amy Kibblewhite, 28, moved into her one-bed flat in Chigwell, Essex in July 2025 and estimates the cost of living alone has left her paying £11,000 more a year on household costs than if she had a partnerEssexLive · 19 Oct, 14:00

In this story: Amy Kibblewhite · Chigwell · Essex

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