Brits aspire to ‘the good life’ with self-sufficient lifestyles

As the recession takes a hold, new research from egg.com reveals that many Brits have changed their lifestyles to become much more self-sufficient by adopting alternative means that wouldn't look out of place in an episode of The Good Life.

In the spirit of Tom and Barbara from The Good Life, a programme which was filmed during the 1970s recession, one in four (23 per cent) have turned a section of their garden into a vegetable patch and a further one in 25 (4 per cent) have taken to raising chickens to counter the recession biting into their food costs. And it appears that a bottle of Perrier water or a fine wine are no longer the drinks of choice to accompany a home reared roast, with over a third (36 per cent) of people switching from bottled to tap water, and one in 16 (6 per cent) opting for a slightly stronger tipple by brewing their own alcohol.

In fact, the survey also reveals that over a third (35 per cent) are now eating and drinking less to counter the affects of the recession. The most popular way Brits have taken to reducing the affects of the recession is to collect money off coupons, with 58 per cent choosing to do this to help reduce their monthly outgoings.

Patrick Muir, spokesperson at Egg.com, said: "It's interesting to see that people across the country are going back to basics and adopting imaginative do-it-yourself savings techniques. Simple habits and a simple life are replacing luxuries, and a ‘can do' attitude is coming to the fore."

In addition, the survey reveals that a fifth (19 per cent) of Brits are making their money go further by cutting their own hair, including a brave one in six (15 per cent) of women. Other do-it-yourself budgeting techniques include making your own clothes, with one in 10 women admitting to doing so and a further one in 14 (7 per cent) have taken to knitting themselves clothes or presents.

With many New Year fitness resolutions already fallen by the wayside, those expensive gym memberships are also looking like easy pickings for budgeters, with over a fifth (22 per cent) of people ditching the gym and opting for a Rocky style al-fresco work out instead.