It’s Socks vs. Love - Cold Winter has been a Real Passion Killer Say Brits

New research from leading comparison website Gocompare.com reveals that while we are spending more time under the duvet, the cold weather is proving a real passion killer. Research commissioned by Gocompare.com, carried out with 3,000 UK respondents of all ages in February 2010 by OnePoll Research provides some interesting insights..

A new survey of 3,000 Brits reveals that:
• 43 per cent of people admit to wearing socks in bed this winter
• 22 per cent say they have gone to bed wearing their clothes
•17 per cent say their love life has suffered because of cold weather

While over half (53 per cent) of those surveyed have been lying-in longer whenever possible, or going to bed earlier (34 per cent) to keep warm, 17 per cent said that their love life had suffered because of the cold weather. Nearly a fifth (19 per cent) of Brits complained that they had love less than once a week over the winter period.

The key findings from Gocompare.com’s ‘Winter Warmer’ survey reveals that to keep warm:

• 57 per cent of people have used more blankets and duvets around the house
• 52 per cent have been wearing pyjamas or other sleepwear to bed
• 43 per cent of people have been wearing socks in bed
• 29 per cent have bought or started using a hot water bottle
• 22 per cent have gone to bed wearing items of clothing
• 15 per cent have bought or started wearing thermal underwear

But while our love life may have suffered, the cold weather has meant a welcome return for some traditionally wholesome activities around the home. Over 14 per cent of Brits say they have learnt how to cook ‘winter warming’ recipes, while 12 per cent have started ‘batch-baking’ to make better use of their oven. Meanwhile, seven per cent say they have started using a real fire or a wood burning stove for the first time this winter.

However, Gocompare.com is urging people not to accept a cold bedroom lying down, but to shop around for a better energy deal instead. On average, Gocompare.com customers who switch their energy provider save £285.37 per year.**

Mark Greening, head of utilities at Gocompare.com, commented, "Since mid-December, we’ve seen some of the severest winter weather for a decade, so keeping warm while managing the heating bills has been a real challenge for some people. It seems the cold weather has meant many of us have been reduced to hibernating under the duvet and putting extra layers on rather than stripping off.

"We can’t promise to improve your love life, but we can help save you cash. As well as making sure your home and appliances are energy efficient, people can save a lot of money on their gas and electricity bills by shopping around for the best deal. And that may just help to warm things up in the bedroom a little."

For further information please contact:

Lynsey Walden or Anders Nilsson at Gocompare.com on 01633 654 055 / 01633 657 599
Gordon, Jason or Liz at MAW Communications on 01603 505 845

Notes to editors:

* Source: Met Office figures 25th February 2010.

**The figures represent the average savings (£285.37) for all domestic customers switching energy supplier using the energylinx and energylinx powered Gocompare platforms from 16th Oct - 15th Jan 2010.

Research commissioned by Gocompare.com. Carried out with 3,000 UK respondents of all ages in February 2010 by OnePoll Research.

Gocompare.com launched in November 2006. It was founded by Hayley Parsons, who has worked her entire career in the insurance broking and aggregator markets, and was the first comparison site to focus on displaying product features rather than just listing prices. It was this philosophy that led to Gocompare.com becoming the first price comparison site to be invited to join the British Insurance Brokers Association (Biba) in May 2008 and helped force older comparison sites to change their ‘quick quote’ ways and stop using assumptions to calculate estimated figures.

Today, Gocompare.com provides one of the most comprehensive online car insurance comparison services in the UK as well as comparing home, motorbike, van, pet insurance and breakdown cover.

Gocompare.com is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Press Contact:
Anders Nilsson
Gocompare.com
London, UK
01633 657 599
anders@gocompare.com
http://www.gocompare.com