Survey Says
URBAN LIFE WAVE 02 2009 HIGHLIGHTS
Here are the results from the second main Urban Life survey of 2009.
A big thank-you to all Urban Life members for your participation and enthusiasm in 2009. Your views and opinions were gratefully received and always welcome.
Government's response to the recession
Almost half of you believe that the UK Government's response to the current recession has been negative, compared to 28% who think it has been positive. Opinion is split on when you think the UK economy will begin to recover from the current recession. 32% think next year (2010) and 31% think 2011, with only 3% believing a recovery will begin this year.
Bank of England's interest rate cut - more of a hindrance than a help
36% of Urban Lifers say they have been hurt by the Bank of England's decision to severely cut interest rates. This compares to 22% who say they've been helped - indicating that more of you are currently saving your money rather than borrowing. However for most Urban Lifers it hasn't made a significant difference (41%).
'Staycation' not vacation
A third of you say you are likely to switch to holidaying in the UK this year - fingers-crossed it's not going to be a typical British weather wash-out! However, most of you are managing to hang on to your foreign breaks, with 41% saying you are unlikely to switch an overseas holiday or weekend break for one in the UK, 25% very unlikely to do so.
Mobile phones
A majority of Urban Lifers with a mobile phone enjoy the art of text - over half (54%) of you say that you text more than you call, with 36% texting a lot more. Of those with a personal mobile phone, 3 in 4 have a monthly contact, with about 1 in 4 using a Pay As You Go mobile.
Of those who have a mobile phone (work or personal), O2 is the most common network, followed by Orange and Vodafone. Customers of O2 are happiest with their network provider, with 90% either very or quite happy. Over half (54%) say you are open to switching to another mobile network, with 24% very open to moving network provider.
As for mobile handset brands, Nokia is the most common. However, Apple is the brand of handset most of you want if money were no object - a clear desire to own an iPod Touch! 4 in 10 of you have changed your mobile in the last 12 months. Being offered a better package or price and upgrading handset are the most common reasons for changing either your mobile phone handset or network provider.
Do you take a proper lunch break?
The majority of Urban Life members do not take a full hour break for lunch during the working day. Just under half (46%) sometimes or rarely take an hour break with 16% saying they never take a full hour lunch break. There are a large bunch of dedicated workers amongst you, as the most common response for not taking a full hour lunch break was 'I often need to work through my lunch hour to get my work done'.
Going for a walk to get some fresh air is your most popular lunchtime activity (56%), followed by going to the shops to buy lunch (48%) and sending/reading personal email (43%).
61% of you knew that Nokia were the mobile phone manufacturer to recently announce a 90% fall in profits.
How many unique users across the world used Facebook in the last month? Now that's a tough question for anyone who doesn't work for the social media phenomenon! Answers were equally split across 100-199 million, 200-299 million and over 300 million possible answers. Well done to the 29% who correctly knew/guessed 200-299 million.
Most of you are definite crisp lovers, with 68% correctly identifying Sausage & Mash as the flavour not amongst Walkers' new range of crisp flavours. Builders Breakfast was the evidential winner and most popular choice - egg, bacon, sausage and beans flavoured crisps. Remember - don't knock it until you've tried it!
Are you still treating yourself in the recession?
We asked what one thing you've given up and are missing the most as a result of the recession AND what one thing you refuse to give up.
There were similarities between what 'luxuries' Urban Life members had reluctantly given up and were missing dearly, and what others would never consider giving up - holidays, eating out, gym membership, shopping, smoking, the car, the morning coffee, chocolate...
Things given up and are missing the most:
"Daily takeaway coffee in the morning. Have limited to a couple of days a week" Female, 25-34, London
"Dining out - I still eat out occasionally but I'm tending to cook at home a lot more." Male 25-34, London
"Personal Training - too expensive." Male 25-34, London
"Going to the Chiropractor - my back is killing me!!" Female, 25-34, Newcastle
"A second holiday abroad." Female, 18-24, London
"The second take away of the week. But that's a good thing. And general clothes shopping. quot; Female, 25-34, London
"Walking into a department store and buying something without thinking about the price." Male, 25-34, London
"Blueberry Muffins, it brightens up my working day and I have to see them waving at me in the canteen whenever I go for coffee." Female, 35-44, Manchester
"A holiday this year abroad in the sun, I know you can get a cheap holiday here, but not always and definitely not the weather and different cultures" Male, 35-44, Glasgow
Things refuse to give up:
"Buying handbags... A girl has to have one vice." Female, 35-44, London
"Holidays - I always value having the time to take a break and get away from it all, I couldn't live without it!" Male, 25-34, Leeds
"Socialising with friends - there are plenty of offers on at the moment to make a night out still affordable and friends are always important." Female, 25-34, London
"Going out... I just do it more frugally, frequent cheaper pubs, and start or finish the night at someone's house where we can be comfy but drink cheaply." Female, 18-24, London
"Alcohol. I'm not a binge drinker but I do like a nice drink after work or when socialising with friends." Male, 25-34, Birmingham
"Clothes shopping. It makes me happy and in times like this everyone needs their guilty pleasures." Female, 18-24, London
"Broadband internet access and the occasional Guinness." Male, 35-44, London
"Chocolate!! No matter the price, it keeps me happy in these troubled times." Female, 25-34, Edinburgh
"Holiday abroad - considering it was actually cheaper to get accommodation in Greece than it was in Dover!" Female, 18-24, Leicester