Cost Chaos: Singles Face Crushing Financial Insecurity

Rising living costs are pushing single young adults into financial insecurity, revealing a stark disparity in emergency savings compared to those in relationships.

Story Snapshot

29% of single young adults lack emergency savings, nearly double the rate of those in relationships.
Financial pressures may be influencing relationship decisions among young adults.
Post-pandemic inflation and rising costs exacerbate savings challenges for singles.
Experts call for improved financial literacy and policy interventions.

Financial Disparity in Emergency Savings

The financial vulnerability of single young adults has been highlighted by a recent survey commissioned by OneFamily, which found that 29% of single young adults lack an emergency fund compared to 16% of those in relationships. This gap underscores the economic challenges faced by singles, who save less per month due to higher per-person costs and lack of shared expenses.

The situation makes for some staying in partnerships just to manage living costs. As inflation continues, the disparity in financial resilience between singles and couples is expected to widen, putting singles at a greater risk of financial shocks.

Impact on Personal Relationships

The financial constraints affecting singles are not just economic but also social. The concept of a “tax on being single” is gaining traction as higher living costs and stagnant wages make it difficult for single-income households to build savings. Financial experts, including OneFamily CEO Jim Islam, emphasize the need for financial independence and resilience. Islam noted that some people may stay in unhappy relationships simply because they cannot afford to manage expenses alone.

Parallel surveys by Credit One Bank and Bankrate corroborate these findings, showing inadequate emergency savings among Gen Z and millennials. The persistence of these trends suggests a need for improved financial education and policy interventions aimed at supporting singles and enhancing their financial literacy.

Potential Policy and Economic Implications

The lack of emergency savings among singles could have both short-term and long-term consequences. In the short term, singles are more susceptible to financial shocks, leading to increased reliance on credit and potential debt accumulation. In the long term, this financial insecurity may delay significant life milestones such as home ownership and family formation.

The broader economic impacts include reduced consumer spending and increased demand for social safety nets. Policymakers may need to consider targeted interventions to address these challenges, such as enhancing financial literacy programs and supporting affordable housing initiatives. Financial institutions might also respond by developing new products tailored to the needs of singles or those with limited savings.

Too broke to break up: 21% of young adults ‘stayed with partner to manage costs’ https://t.co/aU34mdv11o pic.twitter.com/ayjghjqpms

— Asif Patel (@A51FR3D) August 10, 2025

As the discussion around financial resilience continues, the emphasis remains on empowering young adults to build better savings habits. The disparities highlighted by the OneFamily survey may prompt a reevaluation of current financial advice and policy approaches, ensuring they are inclusive of the unique challenges faced by singles in today’s economic climate.