RichM Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 Living apart together: the cautious approach Figures released by the Office of National Statistics yesterday showed that the overall number of "living apart together" (LAT) couples, counting the students and teenagers, is now around the same as the number of cohabiting couples. Three in every 10 men and women who are neither married or cohabiting are LATs. Some are in same sex relationships. The ONS claims the LATs are a new social trend. ... Last month, the Unilever Family Report 2005 - Home Alone?, authored by the Institute of Public Policy Research predicted that by 2021, 35% of Britons would be solo livers. The report revealed how living alone affects men and women differently, with 56% of men saying that they are sometimes lonely against 48% of women. All a bit miserable, really. Why don't people just get hitched? You're nowt special! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
right_freds_dead Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 i dont get why the women that live alone and the men that live alone dont get together ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichM Posted December 16, 2005 Author Share Posted December 16, 2005 I don't know Fred, I just don't know. Not enough old-fashioned romance, I suspect, no "dances", or holding-hand stages to go through. Just one quick shag round the back of Yate's wine lodge, and then where do you go? A slow meander through months of uncertainty, delicately trying to work out if your partner is keen on you or not, no clear milestones to go through, before realising that your potential mate has the same flaws as you - and so is dumped. It's not how the Amish would do not, that's for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
right_freds_dead Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 Just one quick shag round the back of Yate's wine lodge, and then a slow meander through months of uncertainty. hey - you speak for yourself. : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saving For a Space Ship Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 I don't know Fred, I just don't know. Not enough old-fashioned romance, I suspect, no "dances", or holding-hand stages to go through. Just one quick shag round the back of Yate's wine lodge, and then where do you go? A slow meander through months of uncertainty, delicately trying to work out if your partner is keen on you or not, no clear milestones to go through, before realising that your potential mate has the same flaws as you - and so is dumped. It's not how the Amish would do not, that's for sure. Oh well, thats my new year start-up chaperone business up the swanny then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classixuk Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 i dont get why the women that live alone and the men that live alone dont get together ? Well some of them may be gay of course! (1 in 10 apparantly) so considerations have to be made there. As for the remaining women and men some will be the bitter and twisted ones who are too bitter and twisted to accept eachother. After that come the financially reckless...you know the type "So, have you got kids from your previous relationship?"...."No, just a bucketload of debts and my £15 per month subscription to Horoscopes monthly". I couldn't live with that, and believe me I tried once...impossible! Which other factors keep someone single (against their will)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
right_freds_dead Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 it cant be any of the above. all the above have been with us all the time. those are all standard characteristics. it must be something new. like tv.? builds up too many unrealistic expectations of modern life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classixuk Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 Oh, you mean like when there's no orchestra and fireworks in the background on the morning of your third anniversary, just the husband running to the newsagents to buy a card before his wife realises he's forgotten? Or that Nicole and Papa don't really have time to go driving around france in their matching new cars? The reality for Nicole and Papa is driving to Tesco for the shopping instead of the usual Asda? Perhaps it's the fact that the Ikea lounge all spik and span in the brochure doesn't also show the red bills and final demands hidden away in the "Clausstropp" drawer unit that keep daddy working all hours at the office alongside his blonde secretary? I think you may be onto something RFD! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breezi Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 I know two sets of couples that are both on the dole, living apart in different houses because they get more benefits as single people. Just conning the system as they are obviously not single. Both run cars, have had three holidays this year, one abroad. One couple have four kids, 1 lives in one house the other three live in the other. The systems wrong and if you know how to crack it you can live without working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrashedOutAndBurned Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 (edited) Who funds this ONS? They seem to peddle fiddled stats and now utterly pointless stats? Since when did going out with someone become 'living apart together'? If this daft phrase catches on I can see all the Vicky Pollard kids going, 'Are u still going out wiv yer boyf?' 'Yeah, we've now decided to live apart together'. 'Isn't that a bit soon?' 'But I really love him'. What next? 'Solosexuals now outnumber gays, which could lead to calls for equal rights for w-a-n-kers'. 'Relationships between online gamers could reduce demand for housing due to rise in the number of virtual homes?' Edited December 16, 2005 by CrashedOutAndBurned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classixuk Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 Who funds this ONS? They seem to peddle fiddled stats and now utterly pointless stats? Since when did going out with someone become 'living apart together'? If this daft phrase catches on I can see all the Vicky Pollard kids going, 'Are u still going out wiv yer boyf?' 'Yeah, we've now decided to live apart together'. 'Isn't that a bit soon?' 'But I really love him'. What next? 'Solosexuals now outnumber gays, which could lead to calls for equal rights for w-a-n-kers'. 'Relationships between online gamers could reduce demand for housing due to rise in the number of virtual homes?' LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest STR2004 Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 "Why don't people just get hitched? " I can't speak for young (or gay) people in a relationship but if you're a little older and she has children it simply makes no financial sense to 'get hitched' or live together. I have some friends that have been dating for quite a while, she has two children, works and earns < £15K, he earns £40K and lives alone. As a working parent she gets an extra £400 to £500 (not sure exactly) per month in tax credits. £6000 a year tax free is a pretty large incentive to stay single don't you think? STR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
right_freds_dead Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 (edited) i cant think of one good reason to become legally married. ? in fact: isnt marriage the state interfering in your personal relationship by making it packed with legal obligations and laws. sod off is what i say. Edited December 16, 2005 by right_freds_dead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 I've been living with my girlfriend for nearly 10 years & I daresay we'll get married, but I've seen two friends meet, get married and separate in that time. Why fix what aint yet broke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timetopaythepiper Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 Good point Breezi. I also know a fair number of couples that do this, either for more dole or tax credits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Rose Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 Marriage gives the woman financial rights when the relationship breaks up, to take account of the fact that she's done most of the childcare and housework and has less earning power. Most men don't want to take that on, once they've been through one marriage breakup. Especially if the woman already has kids from another relationship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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