Britons lose 3.5 years of their lives in the domestic doldrums

30 November -0001

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3 January 2006, London - The average Briton spends the equivalent of three and half years of their life doing household chores, according to a poll by broadband provider Bulldog Communications.

That means the average person spends 16 days a year or eight hours a week in the domestic doldrums.

With more than 80% of us wishing we could spend less time on household chores, and more than 40% admitting to spending less than eight hours a week with our families, it's clear that this obsession is taking its toll.

A female will spend four years of her life on chores, compared with just two and a half years for men. For the 40% of women that spend more than ten hours a week on household chores, the quest for domestic bliss is becoming a nightmare.

A quarter of people questioned admitted to spending more than four hours a week on the weekly food shop. But when it comes to money, we're a bit more lax with 40% of us spending less than an hour a week managing our finances. Although the thrifty Scots spend an average of four and a half hours a week keeping an eye on the purse strings.

With a growing number of people turning to broadband, the number of consumers taking advantage of internet shopping and banking is set to climb.

Andrew Morley, Bulldog's chief commercial officer, commented: "In a relatively short space of time, internet shopping has become the first choice for people looking to save time in their busy lives. It is not just more convenient than making a trip to the local supermarket, it also offers more control over your time and your life. The start of the new year is a good time to reassess the amount of time we spend on home admin. By using a super-speedy net connection, like Bulldog's 8 meg service, we can cut down the time spent on chores from years to minutes."

The research also found:
Neglected families

• One in 10 admit that their obsession with housework leaves them no time to spend with their family

• One in ten admit to spending over five hours a week braving the supermarket run

• The average Scot spends four and a half days a year on finances, compared with three days for the English

• Things aren't so bad for the 15% of 18-30 year olds who spend less than an hour a week on household chores
• This won't last - when you hit your thirties expect to lose your life to the domestic doldrums: 15% of 30-40 year olds admit to spending over 15 hours a week on housework
• Don't expect any respite as you get older, the over 55s lose almost 20 days a year on housework

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