Well, people who live in departments rather try not to extend in their expenses
You mean apartments? What are ‘departments’ in terms of living spaces?
Anyway, you are correct. Used to live in a rented room in a row house and then an apartment in a nearby city (with my short girlfriend at the time, coincidentally- 6’7” with 5’1.5”), and would often make stuff when possible. Though was dating, of course, so going out to eat together was a thing, too, but making meals together was still a nice couples activity that saved money. When alone, it’d make even more sense to do it more often for the economics.