Brits spend a lifetime worrying
Remembering to lock the house, upsetting others and putting on weight are just some of the main worries for Brits.
The facts emerged in a study by npower hometeam 50 which used the results from 3,000 respondents to compile an index of the top 50 worries.
The results reveal that one in three are worried their boiler will break down this winter leaving them without any heating or hot water, whilst one in five are concerned about skidding on the ice and 16% are still trying to decide what to buy people for Christmas.
More than half of those questioned worry about not having enough money, closely followed by illness and personal health. Some of the more obscure worries in the top 50 list include having a big bottom, forgetting someone’s birthday, managing to keep the house clean, what to have for dinner, and going grey.
More than half say that worrying about the little things gets in the way of enjoying life whilst three in four wish their worries would just go away.
Richard Cotton, head of sales for npower hometeam, comments: “Our survey shows that Brits have a lot on their mind at the moment, but that we’re also more worried about things like getting wrinkles and keeping the house clean than how happy our children are or whether we’ve gone into our overdraft.
“It’s important to keep things in perspective and not let worries get in the way of enjoying life. And whilst npower can’t stop you getting wrinkles or putting on weight, we can help you tick boiler breakdown off your list of worries this winter. Having your boiler break can cause huge disruption to your home, and the idea of finding yourself in this weather without heating or hot water is understandably worrying. That’s why this winter npower has extended its hometeam 50 care to any British resident, even if they are not an npower customer. By signing up to a fixed monthly fee, homeowners can tick at least one worry off their list”
The change in criteria means that thousands of homeowners can take advantage of hometeam 50 this winter, and what’s more, if the customer doesn’t call out npower’s hometeam to work on their boiler or central heating during the 12 month care plan, npower will automatically return 50% of the annual cost on their year anniversary.
The poll also shows money worries consume many Brits – as well as not having any, people also worry about spending too much at the shops, house prices, going into their overdraft before pay day and being able to afford to settle down and having children.
Being part of a close knit family also causes apprehension for many of those polled – many people are anxious about aging relatives, concerned whether their children are happy and well behaved, and if they are doing well at school.
Where partners are concerned, many people are worried about being dumped and their other half having an affair.
And the survey shows many Brits are understandably anxious about looking after the house. As well as remembering to lock up, forgetful folk also worry about keeping it safe and in good working order, leaving the hair straighteners on or remembering to turn the oven off.
Other worries which appear in the top 50 include upsetting someone, getting wrinkles, drinking too much alcohol and being late for work. Crashing the car, being able to have children and feeling forced to buy a bigger dress size also feature in the list.
The research shows the average person reckons they worry up to seven times a day, for at least eight minutes at time. That’s just under an hour of worrying a day – or an astonishing 2.3 YEARS of worry over the average adult lifetime of 60.5 years.
Sadly, 52 per cent of Brits say 2010 has been a particularly worrying year.