Being single has a lot going for it, but £10k a year seems too high a price for the privilege | Emma John

People who live alone spend almost twice as much per person as those in couples, research has revealed

Some claim that the first day in the third week of January is the most depressing one in the calendar. This year, Blue Monday arrived with added cruelty - for those of us who happen to be single, at least. A financial services firm chose just that miserable moment to reveal how much more expensive it is to live on your own than in a couple.

If you're currently alone, and the post-holiday slump already has you feeling down about it, you may want to look away now. According to the brokers Hargreaves Lansdown, the cost of living premium for being single comes in at an average 860 a month, factoring in typical expenses from rent and energy bills to groceries, wifi and TV subscriptions.