Being single might be peaceful, but that independence can come with a bill nobody talks about. According to new research, Gen Z believes people without partners are missing out on the kind of everyday favors that save couples money, from airport rides to help moving furniture.
A CardRates.com survey published November 5 found that 52% of Gen Z adults ages 18 to 28 think single people receive fewer offers of practical help than couples. That was the highest share of any generation surveyed, putting younger adults 22 percentage points ahead of baby boomers.
And this goes beyond somebody forgetting to invite their single friend to brunch. A quick ride to the airport can eliminate parking fees or an expensive rideshare. Having someone watch a pet over the weekend can replace a paid sitter. Borrowing a friend’s truck could mean avoiding a moving bill.
The study surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults between 18 and 64. While 52% of Gen Z noticed a perceived gap, 48% of millennials, 43% of Gen X, and 30% of boomers agreed. Across the entire sample, 45% felt singles received fewer offers to help with tasks that would save time or money.
There’s another twist: The same generation calling attention to the imbalance also wants to do something about it. Additional survey figures shared with Baller Alert show 77% of Gen Z respondents believe people should proactively offer single friends practical or financial assistance, even when doing so isn’t convenient. Overall, 71% of respondents agreed.
The numbers raise a question that gets overlooked in conversations about dating: Does having a partner also mean having a built-in support system that other people assume single adults don’t need?
CardRates consumer finance expert Erica Sandberg says the cost of handling everything solo can add up.
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“It appears painfully clear from our study that single adults do face more financial issues than those who are paired up. There are plenty of benefits to being on your own, but not being able to share expenses is a downside. Handling regular tasks can be expensive and labor-intensive, too,” Sandberg said.
That’s the thinking behind what people call the “singles tax.” It’s not an actual tax bill. It’s a shorthand for expenses one person might cover alone while two people could split them, including rent, utilities, and household supplies. Those costs can hit even harder when someone also has to pay for services that a friend or partner might otherwise provide.
The pressure is real across household budgets. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that housing consumed 33.9% of average U.S. consumer spending in 2025, while the Federal Reserve’s 2026 household-finances report identified rising prices as Americans’ most common financial worry. Those figures don’t isolate single people, but they show why avoiding even one surprise expense matters.
The CardRates survey also found a gender divide in perceptions. Among men, 51% believed singles get less money-saving help, compared with 40% of women. Yet majorities in both groups wanted to change that: 74% of men and 69% of women supported making proactive offers.
Parents weren’t opposed to helping, either. Three in four respondents raising children under 18 supported lending single friends a hand, compared with 68% of respondents without children at home who weren’t expecting.
As Friendsgiving dinners, Thanksgiving flights and holiday gatherings approach, that help doesn’t have to involve handing somebody cash. It could be sharing groceries purchased in bulk, carpooling to a family function, babysitting for a single parent, or offering to pick someone up after a late flight. Even sending the invitation early lets people budget before ticket prices climb.
“The winter holidays can be especially costly and hectic, so it’s great to be able to offer some tips that can relieve some of the financial burdens. Even a small gesture can have a significant impact,” Sandberg said.
There is one important distinction: The poll measures what respondents believe is happening, not a confirmed count of favors actually offered to singles versus couples. And being single isn’t automatically the same thing as living alone.
Still, the takeaway is simple. Before assuming the friend who’s handling everything independently has everything covered, ask whether they could use some help.
