This year adults in the UK spent the equivalent of £933.72 each on technology, according to a new survey from price comparison site uSwitch.com. The research looked at all tech-related spending, from equipment to apps.
The most popular tech choice in the UK was a smartphone (chosen by 48% of respondents), with 28% of adults buying a tablet, 22% buying a ‘non-smart’ mobile phone and 18% choosing an ebook reader. When it came to money, the biggest spending was on a TV subscription (an average of £24.71 per month) followed by a mobile phone (£21.66/monthly).
55% of consumers said they had a healthy attitude towards their gadgets, although 28% said they’d be lost without them and 7% claimed to be addicted.
Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, said “2012 has seen Brits’ tech dalliance turn into a full-blown love affair. However, savvy consumers could cut their tech spend by saving money on their mobile, TV and broadband bills. Considering that monthly mobile deals start at less than £10, the average consumer could be over-paying by around £120 a year. Reviewing their usage and needs and moving to a more suitable plan could help consumers free up some cash for insurance for their precious gadgets, or even let them splash out more in 2013.”
Monthly spending:
Broadband £15.82
Mobile £21.66
TV £24.71
Apps £1.60
Music downloads £1.82
Films £1.09
Gadget insurance £1.59
eBooks £1.57
e-newspapers £0.55
Video games £4.12
Phone accessories £1.48
Games consoles £1.80
Total spend: £77.81 /month