Holidays And Cars Priority For Young Adults

A new survey carried out by Mintel into the lifestyles and aspirations of 20-34 year-olds shows that buying new cars, going on good holidays and paying off non-mortgage debt are high on their list of priorities.

Other results from the survey of 1,500 individuals show that as many as 20% of today’s 20-34 year-olds could remain childless throughout their lives, whilst 45% of single pre-family adults plan to marry or cohabit in the next five years. Two-thirds have made alternative pension arrangements, 15% expect to receive only a State pension and 14% have made no arrangements as yet.

Men are taking longer to leave the family nest as 40% still live with their parents, compared to 25% of women. 20% of singles claim that work is the most important thing in their lives compared to 5% of pre-family couples. Well over a third of pre-family workers want to develop their own businesses over the next ten years, while an equal number favour working abroad.

It also emerged that pre-family adults watch less TV than most, though six in ten listen to music for at least three hours per week. Two thirds of the group enjoy eating out. Those surveyed also generally have a more active lifestyle and a more positive attitude to sport, with four in ten stressing the importance of regular exercise and a quarter believing that it is essential to their lifestyle.

A third of 20-34 year-olds intend to start families by the age of 30 whilst 30% of pre-family adults are currently not working: almost a quarter hope to have found a job in the next 2 years. Three in ten intend to become first time buyers (40% of singles) and 60% expect to be buying a property in the next five years. Almost 60% pre-family adults are looking forward to the new Millennium with confidence.

Mintel: 0171 606 4533