Living on just one income in the UK can be incredibly challenging, especially with the rising cost of living, energy bills, rent, and everyday essentials.
From job losses and illnesses to caring responsibilities or deciding to stay home to raise children, many families find themselves relying on a single source of income.
While it’s possible to make it work, the financial pressure can quickly take a toll, leading to stress, limited choices, and difficult budgeting decisions. For some, even basic comforts can start to feel like luxuries.
In this blog, we explore the everyday struggles people living on one income across Britain face, from managing bills and cutting back on spending to finding support and staying positive.
Rising Living Costs and Stretched Household Budgets
One of the greatest struggles of living on one income is dealing with rising living costs. Food, rent, travel, and energy bills have all become dramatically more expensive in recent years.
For single-income households, this means having to stretch every pound just to cover the basics. That often leaves little, if anything, for savings, emergencies, or the occasional treat.
The smallest increases in price can also have a big impact when families are relying on a single income. Families can find themselves constantly budgeting and cutting back, or going without things they used to take for granted, just to stay afloat.
The Emotional and Mental Load of Financial Pressure
Living on minimum wage in the UK, especially for single-income households, doesn’t just affect your finances - it can take a toll on your mental health, too. Constant worry about money can lead to stress, anxiety, and sleepless nights.
The person earning the income may feel pressure to provide, while the other might feel guilty for not contributing financially. Even simple decisions, like whether to buy a coffee or replace worn-out shoes, can become stressful.
Over time, this constant pressure can affect relationships and emotional well-being. That’s why it’s important to acknowledge these feelings and seek support when needed. Financial stress is tough, but you don’t have to face it alone.
Limited Access to Credit and Savings Opportunities
When you live on one income, it can be harder to save money or get access to credit. With less money coming in, saving for emergencies or future goals will often take a back seat.
Many single-income households struggle to put anything aside after covering their monthly bills. On top of that, lenders may see you as a higher risk, making it difficult to get approved for loans, credit cards, or a mortgage.
Even if credit is available, it often comes with high interest rates. This can leave families feeling stuck, with fewer financial options and very little room to plan ahead or cope with unexpected costs.
That’s why at Salad, we try to make things easier by offering fair, small loans, from £300. Rather than traditional credit score checks, which can be unfair, we use Open Banking to check your affordability based on your current financial situation. If you are in need of a fairer personal loan for an emergency, we may be able to help.
Difficult Choices Between Essentials and Extras
Living on one income often means making tough choices between what you need and what you want. Essentials like rent, groceries, electricity, and transport come first, but that can leave little to no money for anything extra.
That means family days out, birthday gifts, or even the occasional takeaway can feel out of reach. These sacrifices can be especially hard on children, who might not understand why they can't have what their friends do. Constantly saying “no” can feel quite discouraging.
Whilst budgeting can help, it doesn’t always make the decisions easier. For those trying to figure out how to live on one income in the UK, it’s a daily balancing act between staying afloat and enjoying life.
Why Support Systems and Benefits Often Fall Short
If you need help working out what benefits you might be entitled to, check out our Benefits Checker.
Many single-income households rely on government benefits or local support to help make ends meet, but these systems don’t always provide enough.
Benefits always feel like they’re becoming hard to qualify for, slower to process and less able to cover real living costs. Some families may not even be aware of the support available, or how to apply. Whilst charities and food banks offer support, they can only do so much.
The system is often confusing and complex, leaving people feeling frustrated and alone. For many, the help that’s meant to ease the burden just isn’t enough to make a real difference.
For Financial Support in Tough Situations, Choose Salad
We hope this has given some additional context and ideas if you are struggling to live on a single income. If you are looking for support finding out what benefits you could claim, check out our Benefits Checker.
At Salad, we make affordable loan options available for almost every employed UK citizen. We know that the credit score system isn’t always fair. That’s why we use an Open-Banking-based assessment to evaluate your unique financial situation.
We’re an FCA-regulated and authorised organisation, so you can trust us to keep your financial data safe. Our ‘More Than Your Score’ loans can help you regardless of your credit score.
To learn more about our personal loans, click here and to read more blogs like this one, visit our blog page now.
