Household vitality use amongst high issues Brits discover ‘hard to guess’ – inflicting surprises
Research shows Brits trip up when guessing everything from paint and pasta to daily energy use – but in some cases it can end up costing them more.
Brits reckon the weather forecast and someone’s age are the toughest things to guess, according to new research. A poll of 2,000 adults also found many get stumped trying to ‘guesstimate’ how much paint they’ll need when redecorating and how much pasta to put in a pan.
And it seems we’re not great at guessing everyday costs either, with 21% finding it difficult to ‘guesstimate’ the amount of energy their household uses each day (21%). Just 13% correctly guessed it costs 1-2p to boil an electric kettle for a cup of tea, while only 14% knew a 10-minute shower uses between 100-150 litres of water.
But leaving it to chance can come at a price. More than a quarter (27%) admitted they end up wasting food, while 21% said they’ve been hit with a higher bill than expected because they didn’t have the right information.
Three in five (60%) said being able to estimate more accurately would help them plan better, avoid waste (56%) and cut stress (52%). Half (50%) believe having more accurate info would help them predict their costs, bills and spending.
Energy bills topped the list of what people most want accurate information about (38%) underlining the limits of guesswork when it comes to household costs.
The research was commissioned by Smart Energy GB, which has teamed up with TV and theatre star Denise Van Outen to highlight how accurate information can help households feel more in control.
Denise said: “Loads of us rely on guesswork for things like cooking or housework but there are areas in life where being accurate is really important.”
“For me, having a smart meter takes away that uncertainty when it comes to energy. I can see what I’m using day-to-day on my in-home display, which makes it much easier to stay in control and avoid any surprises.
“It’s one less thing to think about, and that peace of mind makes a real difference in a busy household.”
Three in 10 (29%) admit they find it tricky to estimate how much energy their household appliances use, while 27% struggle to work out daily heating costs.
Yet 67% think it’s helpful to be able to see energy use and costs in real time, and almost half (45%) of those with a smart meter check their in-home display several times a week.
Six in 10 also agree that having access to information about energy use can help manage household costs better, according to the OnePoll data.
Victoria Bacon, director at Smart Energy GB, said: “While we might be happy to guesstimate pasta portions and have some leftover for later, there are plenty of areas where we’d prefer to have accurate information, including our energy use.
“Having a smart meter means you will receive accurate bills that aren’t based on estimates, and the in-home display gives you up-to-date information about your energy use, which means no more guesswork.
“That visibility makes it easier to plan ahead, budget more confidently and stay in control of your spending.”
TOP 10 THINGS THAT ARE HARDEST TO GUESS:
- What the weather will be like in the coming weeks
- Someone’s age
- How long a queue will take
- How much paint you’ll need when redecorating
- The actual cost of doing up your house
- Which supermarket checkout will be quickest
- What time your parcel will arrive
- How much energy your household uses daily
- How much pasta to cook
- How much food to prepare for guests
