Introduction
Notable statistics indicate that the average British family endeavor to cut down on their daily average expenditures. This trend is particularly notable within the post recession period. Basically, they are trying to contain their expenses within the bracket of their incomes. This is unique relative to other families across the world who have potentially failed to contain their expenses. Studies have indicated that a typical British family starts its day as early as 6.57am.
The common meal includes the spaghetti Bolognese (Gray 2000). This is especially on the Monday evening. The bed time is usually standard for all members of the family at approximately 10.39pm every night. The social interactions between different families or with their neighbors remain considerably minimal. This is because of the tight work schedule within the highly transformative and competitive economy. For instance, it has been noted that a majority of these families speak mainly to about two of the other families within their neighborhood. Their weekly expenses as outlined remain considerably low.
This is because an average family spends around 88.02 pounds on a weekly basis (Netmums 2012). This expenditure is mostly on the food stuff, as well as the drinks. Fascinatingly, these families switch off their Television sets for a period of nine hours daily. The Briton families have been noted as people of typical habit. Most families enjoy fish and chips as take away every Friday night. However, for other days of the week, Tuesday is spared for pasta bake. Chicken and chicken pies dominate their Wednesday and Thursday respectively. Evidently, the routine typical British family life has immensely changed in many ways in the past 30 years. These changes have been noted in their social life, economic habits, and in all other human realms of life.
Economically
A lot of economic implications can be drawn from the analysis of the lifestyle in a typical UK family. Various studies have indicated narrowly dissimilar disparities regarding the average income of a typical UK family. However, according to government statistics, there is an approximation that the typical family within UK realizes about £32,779 income before taxation. With reference to the ONS data, the typical household, assumedly composed of around 3.9 individuals spends £601.20 on a weekly basis (Gray 2000). This financial figure might be compared to that of the couple’s middling expense of £527.30. From these figures, it can be clearly noted that a given households spends approximately £155.60 for every person, relative to that spent by a couple, which is £263.60 per person.
It is indicated that a typical British family normally owns one silver Ford Focus. Recent investigations have also indicated that these families live on a much leaner budget compared to the rest of the families on the globe (Gaskell 2010, p. 15). The alternative census that focused on the effects of the economic crunch on the typical British family life had significant insights. For instance, there was an indication that in terms of finances, above average of these families agreed or accented that they had been grossly impacted on by the effects of global economic recession (Netmums 2012). Categorically, two thirds considered that the economic crunch left them without enough money in custody by the end of each week.
More than a quarter of these families also reiterated that either one or all the parents presently work for limited hours relative to the previous years. As indicated in most studies, few persons within the typical families have received pay rise in their work stations. This portrays the extent of economic stretch that the average family in the UK can be undergoing. Perhaps, this explains the reason for their mean and lean budget at home (Netmums 2012).
Generally, studies have also indicated that such families have £3,280 for savings. Additionally, on a daily basis, the typical families have approximately £20.62 cash wit h them. An average family might also be serving a mortgage. However, there is a general observation that most households have only been able to pay off about 32% of their mortgage balance. Bills have become a prevalent challenge for the typical UK family (Gray 2000).
Over an average of such families remain amazed at their approximate expenses. In addition, families dread at the likelihood of rise in the notable utility bills by an approximated 70% in the consequent one decade. The fathers are always charged with the obligation to keep the bills attended to. Therefore, they seem to be keener at reducing the bills by keeping the lights and stand-by switches off.
Mums ensure that some finances remain for the holiday expenditures. This is because the average mum and dad are only able to take the family out for two UK breaks annually. Notably, entertainment including cinemas, children games and others also generates significant bills. For instance, these might account for approximately £15 weekly (Gaskell 2010, pp. 38). Other notable expense includes those from the grocery shop as well as alcoholic drinks. The lean expenditure patterns notable amongst the typical British families might be attributed to several economic factors such as the increasingly escalating energy costs.
Technology Impact on Families
Technology has critical impacts in the lives of typical UK families. The effects are several, ranging from those encountered by children to those of their parents. Typical studies conducted by various companies revealed that the children take an approximate of fifty eight minutes of the day while using their digital appliances while at home. A significant proportion of the children have been noted to play using their parent’s technological gadgets such as laptops and computers (Ward & Bélanger 2011, p. 89).
A considerable number of the children from the average UK families also posses their personal computers. A significant number of parents have acknowledged in various studies that their children are familiar with contemporary technological gadgets and assume technology more casually and naturally.
The UK families have applied technology to unite their family members, relatives, and friends. Observably, the recent entrance of novel technological applications such as the iPad within homes has caused significant transformations. For example, such kinds of technology have gained an immense acceptance in their applications from the kids. In addition, their parents are seemingly becoming responsive to the similar patterns. This is observed by the fact that the parents are getting increasingly welcoming to these emerging technologies. They are also more enthusiastic to carry the technologies to their homes (Ward & Bélanger 2011, p. 72).
Because of technology, most parent s from average families in the UK are presently able to operate and work within their homes. The state of work-at-home means a lot to the UK families and remains a constructive consequence of technological advancement. Because of this advantage, parents are increasingly spending most of their humble time at home with the children. The baby sitting associated costs have significantly been minimized by this advancement.
Similarly, the condition has potentially led to a reduction in travel hours and minimization of travel-derived expenses such as bus or train boarding fee. Another notable effect of technology within the average UK family is changing or transforming the children’s learning methods and capabilities. It is presently notable within the UK families that the children who frequently play digital games potentiate an elevation in their visual reasoning skills. Due to this intricate visual acuity and information, these children remain best in multitasking relative to the older parents. However, there are also complains associated with the chip up of technology within the UK families (Netmums 2012).
The children are observed to spend longer time with their electronic gadgets relative to learning and homework. There are also clear indications that over dependence of these children on technological gadgets have diminished their critical as well as analytical skills or competencies.
Additionally, technology has significantly minimized expenses for most UK families. Limited cash is spent to access internet services within commercial cybercafés. Children are more enabled and can perform their research better while at home (Ward & Bélanger 2011, p. 89). This has also aided the learning support systems immensely since the children are able to get support and induction from their elderly on how to use the devices. The parents are also saved the cost of running to the library for research purposes. As observed within the UK families, the teenagers are able to remain linked to their parents due to the application of technology for communication.
Mostly, texting through phones has been applicable presently to keep one another informed about family issues. Generally, there has been an elevated constructive communication association between the children as well as their parents. Apart from the positive contributions of technological advancement to the average UK family, there are also other negative influences that are frequently getting noticed (Ward & Bélanger 2011, p. 89). For instance, the presence of several social networks has made children to create deviant allies and engage in morally questionable behaviors. The availability of pornographic materials within the internet has also led to adoption of deviant sexual practices within families.
Differences between North and South of the UK
Generally, the living standard in the South of UK is relatively higher than that of the North. Energy costs are relatively high within the South, with increasingly high utility bills. In the North, utility bills are much lower, life is cheap and there is plenty of food. Housing seems to be more affordable within the North of UK compared to the Southern part (Gaskell 2010, p. 54). As a result, the occupiers of the South have to work for several hours in order to keep in pace with the highly transforming and expensive lifestyle.
The southerners also trim their budget and expenditures and have minimal saving relative to the northerners. Luxuries are no longer important and must be minimized when staying in the South. Education costs within the south are generally higher than that of the north. Generally, it can be noted that apart from cultural disparities, there are also economic differences between the north and south of the UK.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the general observations outlined in the discussion largely emanate from increased globalization and technological effects. There is a general increase in life standards in all states and people have to adequately prepare and budget in order to survive within their capacities and income. This is typically the trend notable within most average families in UK.
List of references
Gaskell, E 2010, North and South. Web.
Gray , M 2000, The economic burden of back pain in the UK, Global Health Outcomes, Vol. 84, no. 1, pp. 95-103.
Netmums, D 2012, Feeling the squeeze. Web.
Ward, M. & Bélanger, M 2011, The family dynamic: a Canadian perspective, Nelson Education, Boston, MA.