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Broadband a ‘must-have’ in difficult times

According to a survey by BT, broadband tops the list of must-haves, compared to buying new clothes, alcohol and a TV subscription.

In the current economic climate, many households are cutting back on spending, but it seems that broadband, along with a mobile phone tops the list of things people cannot do without.

In the survey, 57 per cent of people said they would refuse to lose their broadband connection, and 37 per cent said the same about their mobile.

John Petter, managing director of BT’s Consumer division, said:  “Savvy savers have already worked out how they can use technology to their advantage, with almost half of people using their internet to search for bargains on comparison sites and one in six people starting to use their landline instead of their mobile.”

Britain’s ‘Refuse to Lose’ list

1)   Broadband (57%)
2)   Fresh fruit and veg (43%)
3)   Mobile phone (37%)
4)   Home phone (27%)
5)   Chocolate (25%)
6)   TV subscription (22%)
7)   Alcohol (17%)
8)   New clothes (13%)

Top 10 money-saving measures

1)      Staying in more (63%)
2)      Going to cheaper shops (59%)
3)      Wearing jumpers rather than putting the heating on (51%)
4)      Making the most of loyalty and reward cards (49%)
5)      Taking part in competitions (49%)
6)      Taking a packed lunch or leftovers to work instead of buying lunch (47%)
7)      Using comparison sites on the internet to get a bargain (44%)
8)      Selling unwanted items online or at car boot sales (39%)
9)      Buying fewer magazines (34%)
10)     Using cash rather than plastic (34%)

Perhaps it’s no surprise that broadband tops the list of things people can’t do without, especially if they’re not going out.

“This attachment to communications is less absurd than it might initially seem. Clearly fresh fruit and vegetables should be top of everyone’s must have list, but staying connected offers a vital lifeline in this 24/7 society we all now live in, “ says Alvin Hall, Personal Finance expert and TV presenter.

“Broadband offers access to myriad ways of saving money – searching for the cheapest deal, selling unwanted goods on online auctions, downloading discount vouchers, entering competitions and even taking part in surveys like this one in return for cash.”