When it comes to being single, you’re either living alone, or with a pack of amazing roommates (your parent’s don’t count). Adulting is hard, but we don’t judge. So at the grocery store, what are singles actually buying, and how do their purchasing habits differ from their married counterparts? Let’s explore.
Shopping for an Army of One, or Some…
According to Business Insider, the number of millennials with roommates has surged in recent years. More young adults have roommates, than in previous years. For this, you are either buying in bulk (which is really smart), or you are dividing up the grocery bill with your roommate(s). Singles have gotten smart when it comes to their grocery bill, and many are beginning to meal prep. With roommates, or solo, meal prepping can actually be very effective when you are working towards saving extra money at the end of the month, and you also have more time to control what you eat. Meal prepping is associated with making healthier meals, and avoiding potentially dangerous foods found in drive-throughs.
What’s in the Cart Matters
You’ve just got paid, and your fridge is empty, again. It’s time to head to the grocery store. What do you put on your list? It depends, though what you buy will differ from the traditional ‘married with children’ shopper. Things you don’t need to worry about spending money on generally fall into the family items category. Diapers, children snacks, and chow for your significant other, adds up pretty quickly. When you’ve got your list of items budgeted out and on a piece of paper, you’ll easily notice a smaller chunk of change going towards your food, rather than the opposite. Go ahead and add that extra cash to your emergency fund.
Alcohol
This may not always be at the store, but when singles buy alcohols it is generally for the purpose of socializing. It’s no secret that singles have more of a social life than those who are married off with children. Singles are more self-sufficient and fulfilled. It would only make sense, then, that singles would invest in alcohol, a nice touch to any house party. Elite Daily found that single people drink nearly three times as much as couples do, and spend about $60 on average a week in comparison to their married counterparts of $22 a week.
Other than the basic housing expenses, singles generally allocate their money differently when it comes to spending. Let us know how you spend your hard earned cash in the comments below. Stay secure and live the best life ever in your singles journey.
