The (Mostly Benefits) of Being Single

More people in Canada are living on their own

In Canada there is a growing number of people who are living alone. According to Statistics Canada, there was a drop in the number of people living together as couples from 1981 to 2021, and researchers believe it is due to societal shifts, that it is acceptable for people to live by themselves.

Some factors are fewer people getting married, those who are divorced choose not to remarry or have another partner, or they just choose to be single.

The question, "Are single people happier on their own" was posed on the national CBC radio program Cross Country Checkup and it was interesting to hear the responses.

Many people cited being happier on their own because they can do whatever they want and don't need to answer to anybody, though they added they were still interested in having relationships, just not living together. Others said they were happy to live by themselves and had a good network of family and friends.

One male caller said he was actively looking for a relationship but had yet to find one so he was keeping busy with lots of activities. But it sounded like he was anxious to find a partner. Another admitted he was set in his ways, however he was keen to find someone to look after him...

A woman who called the show said it was important to focus on oneself and not to look for someone to "complete them"... which immediately brought to mind the Tom Cruise movie Jerry Maguire where he says to Renee Zellweger's character, "You complete me," to the oohs of the female audiences at the time.

Ian Hanomansing, the host of Cross Country Checkup suggested perhaps it was time for a screenwriter to write a line saying, "I don't need you to complete me."

Some callers felt it was time to drop the societal expectations of matching up with a partner, getting married and having children, as it doesn't work for everyone. Others felt less pressured, as they had friends in the same situation, or their family and friends were understanding and not expecting them to fulfill these so-called milestones.

But there is also a price to pay being single, nicknamed "the singles tax", which is the difference between what a single person pays for something over a year compared to the cost per person if it's shared by a couple.

In addition there are tax benefits for couples in Canada. One example is for those who are married or in common-law relationships can receive a spousal tax credit if one partner has a lower income, and they can pool medical expenses and split pensions with their partners, if eligible.

The single people who called in didn't feel burdened by "the singles tax", but some felt it was crucial for their friends who were married or partnered up to still include them in things for the opportunity to have more social interactions. 

Meanwhile dating apps seem to be on their way out. One female caller explained finding matches online gave a dopamine rush, but didn't bring them any closer to actually meeting someone; fostering contact in real life was a better way to actually meet people.