People aged between 30 and 49, many of whom will be parents to young children, are the biggest spenders when it comes to chocolate (I can attest to this), blowing an average of £114 a year, while people aged 75 and over are the most frugal, spending £62 on chocolate annually.
What’s surprising is this: the £6,000 chocolate spend eclipses the amount spent on books (£3,700), tea and coffee (£4,000) and even medical insurance (£5,700). The study also found that families spend a hefty £2,300 on other confectionery goodies over the course of a lifetime including a cool £1,900 in ice lollies and ice cream and £1,200 on sugar products.
At this point I could harp on about tooth decay, the cost to the NHS of treating obesity and the dangers to health of too much sugar. But sod that – it’s Easter and you have the rest of the year to worry about calorie-counting.
However, if you are planning to do more than scoff chocolate this weekend, here are some handy tips on how to save money while having fun, courtesy of Zurich Insurance.
1. Explore nature – The long Easter weekend is a great time to explore the outdoors and taking your family out for a walk means you can spend time together without hurting your wallet. Try ramblers.co.uk for recommended walks across the UK.
2. Get creative this Easter – If you have young children to entertain then a great way to do so on a budget is to think creatively, from decorating eggs and painting pictures to making Easter bunnies. You can source everything you need without the costs adding up.
3. Be a tourist – Why not plan a day trip around your nearest city or town? Look out for coupons or deals that coincide with your plans, from subsidised travel and lunch time ‘children eat free’ offers to free seasonal events hosted by the city council.
4. Cooking the family roast, without breaking the bank – Watching your spending is sometimes difficult when you’re entertaining, so make sure you shop around and take a list with you. It’s easy to overspend when grocery shopping, but don’t be caught out on deals that you might not need. Take a list and stick to it.
5. Easter ‘last minute’ breaks – If a city break or a sunny getaway is something you want to do this Easter, look for a last-minute deal. Holiday price comparison sites can be a good way of finding these.
6. Staycation motivation – If you want to get away but you’re saving for that dream vacation, then look into other options such as a ‘staycation’. With 32 per cent of us saving for that holiday of a lifetime, it’s important to make savings now. There are lots of getaway options across the UK, whether it’s camping, a holiday park or staying in a cottage, and you can have a fun family holiday without spending too much.
Helen Nugent is Online Money Editor of The Spectator
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