Brits splash cash on technology that gathers dust

With less than three weeks left until Christmas, many of us are scouring the shops frantically to tick another gift off our shopping list. And at a time when every penny counts, research from Halifax Home Insurance shows Brits are wasting almost £120 a year each on gadgets likely to sit gathering dust on a shelf.

The research among 2000 Brits reveals that one in four (25%) admit giving gadgets knowing they are too technical to ever get used. And surprisingly, people are not learning from experience. Despite one in six people (15%) having received a techy gift they haven't been able to use, over a quarter (26%) believe giving gadgets as gifts will encourage others to use them, and one in six (15%) said they just didn't know what else to give.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not just the older generation who are in danger of being baffled by technology. A fifth of people aged 26-30 admitted they'd received gadgets that they have never been able to fathom out, on a par with respondents aged over 56. And when it comes to the battle of the sexes it appears that men are the technophobes, as almost one in five men (18%) said they have received a gift that was too technical, compared with only 14% of women. Despite this, a quarter of men still resort to buying gadgets as gifts for others, thinking that they will get used.

The top gadget gifts are revealed as:

Mobile phones (25%)
Digital cameras (21%)
MP3 players (18%)
DVD players (13%)
Computers or laptops (11%)
Sat Navs (8%)

And those most likely to give up on their gadgets? Nearly one in five respondents in the North West (18%) and Wales (18%) admit they have received a gift that is too technical for them to use compared to just 7% in Northern Ireland and East Anglia.

Worryingly, it is also revealed that nearly three quarters (73%) of Brits would not think to check if these pricey gifts are covered under their current home insurance policy, which could leave them underinsured in the event of damage or loss.

David Rochester, head of underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, comments: "With Christmas fast approaching, many of us are making the most of the early sales. However, our research highlights that a significant amount of money is being wasted on techy gifts that are left to gather dust - money which could perhaps be better spent elsewhere.

"What is more worrying though is the number of people that wouldn't think to check that these items, which are often expensive, are covered under their current home insurance policy. This could leave them underinsured in the event of damage or loss."

Halifax Home Insurance urges those buying and receiving such gifts to check their home insurance provides the cover necessary whilst these items are in the home, and also to be aware of averaging. Many sum-insured insurance providers extend the value of their contents cover temporarily over the Christmas period, potentially leaving people uninsured when the period ends, however Halifax offers unlimited cover all year round for added peace of mind.