The cost of home entertainment

Back

Gadget-loving Brits have more than £5,000 worth of mod-cons in their home to keep them entertained, according to a new poll1

The poll revealed that appliances such as computers, televisions and games consoles means that the average home is jam-packed with a total of £5,119.13 worth of entertainment items.

And the computer takes up the biggest chunk of that with a PC, printer, scanner, laptop, software and games adding up to a staggering £2,397.56.

The poll shows that the average household also owns in the region of three television sets, worth a total of £906.72, while a DVD player, DVD recorder and video player accounts for more than £314.

For some it's even higher as 28 per cent of Brits own a plasma television worth a whopping £710.71.

The average household also has games consoles which add up to £459, a digital radio, hi-fi system and an MP3 player or iPod worth a total of £413.19, and a digital camera which costs an average £246.62.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure home insurance, which carried out the poll said: "The amount of money Brits are prepared to spend on home entertainment gadgets and appliances proves just how big a part these types of mod-cons now play in our lives.

And the fact that the average home has three television sets also shows how reliant we are on having entertainment on demand, plus the high expectations of children today to own the latest must-haves.

Yet it's worrying that almost a quarter of home owners fail to take out contents insurance to cover their belongings if they are stolen, damaged or destroyed in a burglary or fire for instance."

The poll, of 3,000 Brits also revealed that a staggering 81 per cent of people reckon they couldn't live without the gadgets in their house.

And a laptop and PC were named as the items we most rely on to get by, with almost three quarters of people saying they would dread not having them in their lives.

Almost 60 per cent of people also admitted they often switch on the television or radio as soon as they walk through the door, with 63 per cent saying they hate not having any background noise in their home.

But that means we spend 40 hours and 58 minutes a week – the equivalent of more than a day and a half – keeping ourselves entertained at home by either watching or using our household gadgets.

The most time is spent watching TV with 17 hours and 44 minutes dedicated to our favourite shows each week.

Another three hours and 25 minutes is spent playing DVDs while listening to music takes up just over six hours each week.

Eleven hours and 17 minutes are spent on the computer, while almost two and a half hours is taken up playing on a games console.

Cost of home entertainment in the average UK household

Blackberry - £381.70
Computer software - £293.02
Computer games - £331.50
Digital camera - £246.62
Digital radio - £58.76
DVD player - £94.18
DVD recorder - £143.45
Games console - £265.66
Handheld games console - £193.13
Hi-Fi system - £216.59
Ipod/Mp3 player - £137.84
Laptop - £704.09
PC - £571.08
Photo-printer - £182.04
Printer - £157.91
Scanner - £157.92
TV - £302.24 X 3 = £906.72
Video player/recorder - £76.92

Top 10 mod cons we would find it hardest to live without

  1. Laptop
  2. PC
  3. Sky
  4. Plasma TV
  5. Ipod/Mp3 player
  6. Hi-fi system
  7. Digital radio
  8. DVD player
  9. Photo-printer
  10. Computer games

The average Brit spends in a week

Watching TV – 17 hours and 44 minutes
Watching DVDs – 3 hours and 25 minutes
Listening to music at home – 6 hours and 4 minutes
Playing on a games console – 2 hours and 28 minutes
On a computer at home – 11 hours and 17 minutes

- ends -

 

About esure home insurance

esure provides both buildings and contents cover – with a contents no claim discount.

Terms and conditions apply to esure home insurance

esure’s press contacts

Asia Manzoor, Public Relations Officer: 01737 641305
Niki Bolton, Corporate Communications Manager: 01737 235070
Emma Lloyd, Assistant Communications Officer: 01737 641309
Adrian Webb, Head of Corporate Communications: 01737 641000
Email: pr@esure.com
An ISDN line is available for radio interviews

Notes to Editors

1SWNS conducted an online research survey via Onepoll which interviewed a random sample of 3000 homeowners aged 18+ between 16th June – 22nd June 2008.

About esure

esure was launched in 2001 and is a joint venture between Peter Wood and HBOS. The company offers car, home, pet and travel insurance over the internet and by phone. esure also offers car insurance cover through the brands Halifax, Sainsbury’s, Sheilas’ Wheels and more recently home insurance through the Sheilas’ Wheels brand.

Sponsorship

esure has secured one of the UK’s most iconic sponsorships: the ITV National Weather.