APART BUT TOGETHER

More and more divorced couples are continuing to live in the marital home, as they can't afford to live separately. We investigate...

- KITTY DRAKE, JOHANNA BELL

Everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment. There's the rise in food prices, rocketing utility bills and council tax hikes to name just a few essentials at risk of leaving us out of pocket. But there is one demographic that's really feeling the squeeze - divorcing couples.

Thirty-two per cent of people are staying in a relationship because they can't afford to live alone according to recent reports, with more than 40% unable to cover their living costs if they separate from their partner. We speak to a former couple who overcame early hurdles and are now finding that living together after divorce isn't so bad after all.

Living with the ex: Sharing the house and staying sane

HOUSE THAT My ex & I split years ago but we still live together – we don't want to lose the house, our new partners even stay over

'Now I'm not officially married to him, I love him more'

Clair, 49, and Lee, 50, married in 2005, broke up four years ago and still live together with their two children.

When my colleagues and acquaintances ask after my 'husband', I still feel a strange sort of pang. It seems dishonest to say, 'Lee and I aren't together any more', because in many ways, we are. I haven't felt romantically attracted to Lee for a long time, and we officially broke up four years ago - but we still share a home. I sleep in the main bedroom and Lee has a single bed in our youngest son's room. I can't imagine waking up on Christmas morning without Lee here. The four of us still go on family holidays together.