7 ways being single could help you save more money

7 ways being single could help you save mora money7 ways being single could help you save mora moneyWhere my single ladies at? Between the freedom to do whatever you please and the chance to really focus on yourself, being single has a ton of awesome benefits. One that might not come to mind right away? The money you save being single.Yes, paying rent and footing the bill can be costly when youre living the solo life, but youre also eligible to save mora money without an SO - heres how.1. Rent could be cheaperFirst, living at home with your parents might totally be an option when youre single. You could end up paying a lot less in rent (if anything), and then stashing away cash for your future Pinterest-perfect place. Even better, you might save money on utilities if youre splitting the bills with the fam or if the rents dont ask you to contribute to heat, electric and water bills. However, if sleeping in your childhood bedroom isnt possible, you have the chance to live with multipl e roommates. The average price of rent in the U.S. hit a new high in 2018, at$1,405 per month, so sharing a house with three other people could cost you less, mean a lot more space and be so much more fun.2. Food for one could be cheaperThere are a ton ofways to save money grocery shopping, and when youre single, you get to buy whatever you want to eat and drink. When youre single, you dont need to worry about keeping food in your apartment for an SO, like those sugary cereals or soda. You can truly pick and choose how often you go grocery shopping, how many times a week you want a PBJ sandwich (not judging) or if you eat mac n cheese out of the box more often than you want to admit. Its your life and diet, so you do you and it might just save you money.Pro TipDownload Ibottaand save even more money at the food store3. You might have more time to hustleBeing single is the best because you can truly choose exactly what you want to do at all times. You dont need to worry about spendin g a few hours on Saturday at an SOs family party. Relationships take time and effort, so while youre single, enjoy the freedom to do literally whatever you please - including hustling. You canstart a side hustleor work a few more hours of overtime with ease if youre really looking to save money, pay down debt and achieve financial freedom.4. You could put more away in your 401(k)When youre single, the only person you might need to worry about is yourself. So when it comes to making, spending and saving money, you can choose how you do it all. That also means you can skip keeping that cash in your checking account just in case you need to buy a present for an SO, and instead put it intoyour retirement account. That money is taken out from your paycheck before taxes and so you end up saving more in the long run. Plus, a 401(k), 403(b) or other retirement account is a place to save for the future, so why not work on that while youre single before you need that money for an earlier mil estone like a house, wedding or kids? Its your money, so make aya you do what you want with it before factoring someone else into the picture. Trust us, theres time for that5. Theres no pressure to spend money on a wedding right nowAccording to research from The Knot, theaverage price of a weddingin the U.S. in 2017 was $33,391.Yikes.Staying single longer (or forever) can help you avoid paying that (or any) amount of money for your big day. And if you do want to get married in the future, you have a lot more time to save Even better, when you attend weddings while youre single (or in a relationship), you can get so many ideas for how to throw yours in an affordable way.6. Your debt is your ownWhen it comes to debt, being single is a perk. If you dont plan on getting married, then you have nothing to worry about. However, marriage can throw a wrench into your debt situation. Any debt that someone incurs before getting married wont be legally brought into the marriage. However, any de bt that is incurred after getting married and that has both partners names on the account is considered joint debt. So if you open a joint credit card account with your spouse and they decide to go on a shopping spree at Macys every month without paying it off, it could damage your credit. Enjoy being in charge of only your finances while youre single7. You could get help paying for your kids college tuition now or in the futureWhen youre a single parent, whether thats right now or in the future, its important to know that you canget help in sending yourself or your child to college. For instance, FAFSA will be calculated based on your sole income, which could result in more federal aid for you or your child. Additionally, there aregovernment grantsand college scholarships for single parents, which can help offset the price of tuition.At the end of the day, being single means spending less money on someone else and more on yourself.You may not need to buy presents for a whole other family, and can maximize the amount that you stash away for your future. So take the time that youd spend cuddling with an SO tolearn how to budget better, save more money, pay down debt and invest. The One will come along, but for now, be the boss that you are and live up the solo life in any way you want.This article originally appeared on Swirled.