Living by yourself

First of all, sorry to hear you've split from your husband.

I used to rent a small 1 bed house (albeit with my husband) and we used to spend roughly £25 per month on water (obviously this would be less for you) and gas and electric were about £80 a month, but we had draughty windows. We now live in a bigger house and only spend £65 a month on gas and electric!

I know all of this is for the two of us but hope it helps

I'm an adult with two small children since splitting from my Ex. We spend £65 per month on energy but we are very energy efficient. We spend £65 a month on water because that's what the rates are. We live in a small end terrace. Council tax is I believe £80 a month after discount.

Hi Skinnyrock!

I can't help with your actual question but happy to see you on here (I don't come on loads myself), and also happy to see you're moving forward and looking to the future.

Things will still be hard but you're taking positive steps :-)

I can't really help regarding costs, but just wanted to say it's good to hear you're moving forward! Well done. I hope you find somewhere amazing!!

Hi sweetie. Prices are for both of us again but we pay around £50 a month on electricity (doesn't include heating and we don't have gas) and our water is fixed, I think that's about £38 a month. Council tax is £100, this is for a 1 bed flat. Good luck finding somewhere and glad you're moving onwards and upwards

I had a 2 bed semi by myself before I met H. Can't remember the exact numbers but something like £450 p.m mortgage, £100 p.m council tax (after discount), £20 p.m water, £60 p.m gas and electric. I managed well on my own with an average salary.

Hi Skinnyrock, we live in a 1 bed terraced house and we pay £20 per month for water (we're on a meter) and £40-50 per month electric (we have no gas). I imagine it'll be a little cheaper for 1 person but not a massive amount.

I hope you're ok and stick around here.

I just want to say I've been in this position before, after the end of a relationship. I got myself a lovely little one bed flat and really went to town on making it as homely as I could, and in my own style, too (it was lovely not to have to consult with someone and compromise!) Lots of rugs and candles and fluff to make it super cosy, I had loads of photos of friends and family/good times printed and framed and put them up everywhere .... i made a little me shaped cave and snuggled down in to it, i LOVED it, i was so proud of myself. I struggled financially but I felt that was all part of the experience, forward planning and cutting back, making sacrifices in other areas of my life and then always inviting friends over for tea/chats/dvd nights instead of going out. It was a period of my life I look back on fondly. When I met W I was quite reluctant to move in together, not because I didn't want to, but because it meant giving up my little nest!

RIP, nest

I hope this gives you some hope. You can totally do it, good luck

As far as I am aware, single person discount is applicable by all councils who charge council tax.

One thing I would say to watch out for when renting is places that have storage heaters rather than radiators. We used to rent a one bed flat with storage heaters (no gas) and the elec bills used to be around £80 per month. We now have a (very little) two bed house and have radiators and our bills are considerably less despite it being a house and being gas and elec combined. I found that storage heaters were more expensive and because you couldn't put ours on timer the house was never as warm as having radiators. We might have been an exception though!

Good luck finding somewhere.

Hi Skinnyrock!! Glad to see you back here. How are you? Hope you managed not to call your ex and glad to see you thinking of the future.

I lived on my own until recently and it is a struggle financially but I loved it. All councils offer a single person's reduced rate - they knock 25% off the normal rate. In terms of water you are better off asking for a meter and paying only for what you use than trying to get a single person's rate.

Houses and council tax etc vary wildly so my costs won't mean much to you as I am in Hertfordshire which is ridiculously expensive. When I was in Leeds I was paying £80 per month council tax and my heating/elec bills were £60 per month and then water £20 per month. I also had broadband which was £20 per month. A Tv license is £12 per month. Insurance for contents was £10 per month back then.

A couple of things to think about; if you can't afford to rent somewhere on your own think about renting a room. It is much cheaper and on the plus side you do get to meet other people which can kick start your social life. It gives you more freedom than living with your parents and is a half way house to your own place. In London nearly everyone house shares and have met some really good friends because of it.

If you don't fancy renting a room then consider taking on a larger house and renting out a room in it to help with the bills. Has the benefit of the above but you are in control of who stays with you. Your landlord has to allow you to do this though. When I was in Leeds I let out one of the rooms in my house mon-fri and it worked out really well. Was cheaper than getting smaller house and having it all to myself. You have to be able to afford the times when the house will just be you though. And check on various websites whether there is any demand for rooms in your area first and the going rate.

Thank you so much for all coming back to me. Luckily I've just got a new job (within the same company) so I will be earning a little bit more money. Need to work some practical things out like how much my monthly take home will be etc.

The past three month have been horrific. I really thought I had lost myself but I'm very slowly pulling myself back together. Unfortunately still suffering panic attacks and anxiety issues. I'm hoping that getting my own place will be a large step in the right direction.

Having your own place will hopefully help as you'll feel more independent again. Don't forget we're all here any time you need to chat.

I also left my husband in may, living on my own again. I live in a 2 bed cottage pay £400 month rent, council tax (single person £81p.m) water £8 a week and I put £12 a week electricity in. I have oil not gas so I had a bill of £450 for oil but gas you can easily do it at £10.pw. My sky is £55 a month inc broadband, mob is £22 a month. my food shop is around the £20 p.w mark if I spend £30 then i've overshopped and I put £20p.w diesel in car. and I save £25 a week also. I rarely have money to buy nice stuff but aslongs as I have a roof over my head then 'tis all good!

my water is fixed tariff, electricity is pay as you go and the tv licence was paid in full.