Britons As Spontaneous In Love As With Money

MORI research, informing part of Vodafone's new 'Now' campaign, reveals that Brits feel they are as spontaneous with their financial affairs (9%), as they are in their love lives (11%). It appears that spontaneity is suffering in the UK as a result of constraints on time. The study reveals that over 70% of the population wish they had more time. One in five (20%) workers in the UK seldom or never takes their full annual leave entitlement.

Family would be the first to benefit from the much sought after extra time, as more than one in three state they would spend a weekday free of commitments with loved ones, whilst 1% would spend the extra time working!

Two thirds (66%) of the population believe that our lives are more planned than 20 years ago, despite technology developments making it easier to stay in touch, and in theory, make arrangements more spontaneously. Those that believe technology helps them with time management are more likely to agree they make the most of their time (70% compared with 56% who disagree). In addition, these same people manage to strike the work/life balance in other ways - they are more likely to take their full annual leave (77% compared to 63%).

The MORI study surveyed 13,439 individuals across 13 countries on issues around time and spontaneity. The above findings relate to the UK part of the research. Further details of the international findings can be obtained from the study team.

Technical details

In the UK, MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,106 adults aged 15+ across 208 sampling points. Interviews were carried out using MORI's face-to-face Omnibus and were conducted in respondents' homes between 22-26 September 2005. The total sample has been weighted to reflect the known population profile.