New research commissioned by Santander UK has identified the everyday moments that cause Brits the most unease, with sending a message to the wrong person topping the list. The study found that 46% of Brits regularly experience feelings of dread or unease about standard daily tasks.
Top everyday fears revealed
Sending a message to the wrong person (44%), having a card declined (30%) and accidentally liking somebody's old social media post (24%) are the occurrences that make people feel the most uneasy. Checking a bank balance ranked fourth overall (23%), with some Brits claiming they would rather hold a snake (10%).
Other shockingly preferable alternatives are said to be going on a blind date (9%), giving up their phone for a week (9%), texting an ex (8%) and going skydiving (8%).
Financial admin avoidance
The study of 2,000 people claims that even higher earners feel the same, as one in four (23%) admitted they feel 'uneasy' when opening up their banking app to check their balance. It adds that around two thirds of Brits (67%) say they tend to dodge important financial admin tasks due to the feeling of dread linked to it.
These include avoiding making a budget (42%), not opening letters or emails relating to their finances (40%) and even not paying bills (37%). The main reasons given for putting off these tasks are that they feel too overwhelming (39%), they don't know where to start (26%) or they lack confidence to deal with them (19%).
Savings and generational differences
The research, which also showed half (48%) find it 'difficult to save regularly', comes after Santander launched its Regular Saver account offering an 8% interest. Santander say its findings reveal a 'clear gap' between financial confidence and action. Despite most respondents saying they have a good grasp of their day-to-day spending (83%), half (49%) still admit to actively avoiding their bank account in certain situations.
The most common of these are just before payday (21%), after a holiday (24%) or after paying household bills (24%). The research claims Millennials feel most overwhelmed (56%) when checking their bank balance when compared to Gen Z (50%) and Gen X (42%). This is despite being more likely (82%) to claim they are aware of their everyday spending.
Gail Russell, head of everyday banking at Santander UK, said: "Life can feel overwhelming, particularly when it comes to our money. From checking your bank balance after a holiday to starting saving, day-to-day and financial admin can be easy to put off."
"The important thing is to start somewhere and even one small action can help people feel more in control. Our new regular saver pays 8% AER interest, rewarding customers for putting a little aside each month, helping make saving feel that little more achievable and turning good intentions into a regular habit." Customers who switch to Santander from an external provider can even receive £240 for switching.
Top 10 everyday moments Brits dread most
- Sending a message to the wrong person (44%)
- Having your card declined (30%)
- Accidentally liking someone's old social media post (24%)
- Checking your bank balance (23%)
- Forgetting somebody's name moments after being introduced (23%)
- Being left on read after sending a message (20%)
- Seeing an unknown number calling your phone (19%)
- Presenting to a group (17%)
- Bumping into your boss outside work (11%)
- Realising you've 'replied all' to an email (11%)
