PRESS RELEASE: Sky Broadband
Written: Monday 12th July, 2010
HAPPY EVER AFTER
Brits consider a 'perfect life' to be a #100,000 salary, a house worth #1.6million and an Aston Martin on the driveway, a study found yesterday (Sun).
Two children, two foreign holidays a year and a working week which lasts just 21 hours are also what millions of us yearn for.
The study of 3,000 Brits also revealed a staggering 85 per cent are currently fed-up with their lives and feel they are still a long way from achieving their 'happy ever after'.
A spokesman for Sky Broadband, which carried out the survey to launch its campaign to find the best alternative endings to fairy tales, said: ''While a few Brits are content with what they already have, many are simply working towards a better life which involves more money, a bigger house and a fancy car.
''It seems our idea of a perfect life isn't always down to money though, as many have said, having children and getting married is a big part of getting their happy ending.
''The ultimate happily ever after may seem like a fairytale but time with family and friends is attainable and plays a huge part in our quest for happiness.''
The study also found the majority of Brits believe a pay rise of #32,000 and a holiday home in Cornwall would make them more content with their lives.
Being in better health, having more holidays and feeling less stressed would also allow Brits to get closer to their idea of a perfect life.
But when it comes to work, a third of Brits would like to be their own boss, while one in five want to give up work completely.
More than four in ten also admitted they would have to go on at least one exotic long-haul holiday a year before they were living their true 'happy after ever' lifestyle.
New York was the most popular choice of destination, followed by Australia, the Maldives and the Seychelles.
Time with loved ones is also important to us with the average adult ideally spending almost 28 hours - or four hours-a day - with their family.
A further 13 hours a week, or almost two hours a day, would be spent socialising with friends, while two hours and 25 minutes would be set aside for some 'me-time' each day.
Appearance was also an important factor in the perfect life with the average woman wanting to lose 10lbs to get to their ideal weight of around nine-and-a-half stone, while men want to shed 8lbs to just over 12 stone.
But for some, they haven't got long left to work towards their perfect life, as more than two thirds of Brits want to be living it by the time reach the age of 42.
Researchers also found a few generational differences in the dream life with those aged 18-24 claiming to want an annual wage of #88K - #36,000 less than the #124,000 35-44-year-olds want.
But holidays are more important for younger people with half of people aged 25-34 wanting at least one long-haul break a year compared to just a third of over 55s.
Contrary to popular belief both men and women cite marriage as an important factor in their future happiness (84 per cent of women versus 75 per cent of men).
Of those who weren't satisfied with their lives two thirds blamed the fact they are unable to afford everything they want.
Another 51 per cent felt down because of their weight, while one in two were dissatisfied with salary.
The study also found 13 per cent of Welsh residents already believe they are living their 'happy ever after', along with 12 per cent of Scots.
Just one in 20 of those living in Yorkshire said they had achieved their goals with 16 per cent saying they felt constantly fed-up.
This research was carried out on behalf of Sky Broadband to support its 'Happily Ever After' Twitter campaign.
Sky Broadband is challenging the nation to come up with new "happily ever after" endings to some of the country's favourite fairy tales in a 140 characters or less, to find out more visit www.sky.com/happilyeverafter or enter via Twitter using hashtag #HEA.
Research conducted by global market research company www.onepoll.com
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