A study has revealed that British men have square eyes as they consider their television (40 percent) to be something they couldn’t live without – but women are more practical and said they’d be lost if they didn’t have their toothbrush (49 percent). Researchers surveyed almost 2,000 mixed gender respondents who were asked to vote for the things they “couldn’t live without” and would always find the funds for.
The report, commissioned by Lending Stream, revealed that Brits are a hygienic group with 64 percent claiming they would be unable to live without shampoo, 30 percent lost without conditioner and 47 percent without shower gel.
A host of other things men would always find the money for include alcohol (25 percent), their car (33 percent) and their laptop (30 percent).
On the flipside – the nation’s women rated their dog (22 percent), friends (36 percent), a cup of tea (34 percent) and a good book (33 percent) as the most vital ingredients to their lives, proving that it’s the small things in life that mean the most.
Perhaps breaking gender stereotypes, when it came to their partners it was British men who were revealed as the more doting sex - listing their partner as number two in the list of top 50 things they can’t live without.
Women placed their other halves as the fourth most important thing in their lives.
The study also revealed that women are far soppier when it comes to their mums – with 32 percent saying they could not live without their mothers - as opposed to just 18 percent of men.
Holidays, chocolate and the pub all featured in women’s top 50 – as did chips, curry and dad for the nation’s men.
However despite both lists for men and women including items of monetary value – a staggering 61 per cent of Brits claimed they were not materialistic.
But the research also revealed that the average Brit would be willing to pay more than £4,000 so they wouldn’t have to live without their favourite thing for a year.
And even if times were tough – 44 percent of Brits say they would still find the funds to visit family.
Brits have also been revealed as a self-conscious bunch with trips to the hair-dressers coming second on the list of things we couldn’t part with when on a budget – with more than one in ten Brits unable to stay away from the salon.
Twelve per cent would make sure they have the money for a take away and 32 percent put aside funds for a beer or wine.
Furthermore – the results showed that for men and women, a holiday is still seen as the biggest treat in life.
Yesterday, Chris deBoer, CEO of Lending Stream which carried out the study said: “This is a refreshing snapshot into the attitudes of Brits and how they choose to spend their money. Far from being extravagant with money, it is the simple things in life that they can’t live without.”
