Although many budding Jamie Olivers may be looking to purchase top of the range gastronomic gadgets, the purchase of such devices could be unnecessarily turning up the heat on their finances. Such is the assertion of Halifax Home Insurance after it released a study which showed that the typical man has more than 100 pounds of cooking devices which have never been used. According to the financial services firm, men have splashed out an average of 119 pounds on gadgets that will never be put to use, with women spending about 88 pounds. Meanwhile, it was indicated that more than 250,000 households have over 500 pounds worth of appliances gathering dust in kitchen drawers and cupboards. Overall, it was reported 2.6 billion pounds of culinary items have been bought but not made use of.
Research from the firm indicated that consumers in the south-east are wasting the most money, splashing out an average of 119 pounds on unused kitchen gadgets, with expenditure by people in northern England coming at 118 pounds. Those from the Midlands, however, were revealed to spend 80 pounds on unused items.
A sandwich toaster was revealed to be the gadget most likely to never be plugged in, with 32 per cent of people having, but not using, such an item. Meanwhile, just under a fifth (19 per cent) of Britons own a tea or coffee maker but have never actually made use of it. Juicers, electric can openers, blenders and steamers were also shown to be popular kitchen items to buy but not when it actually comes to cooking.
For those consumers looking to purchase top-quality kitchen appliances, applying for a low cost loan may be advisable.
David Rochester, head of underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, said: “British kitchens are turning into a graveyard of unused gadgets. While Britons have the best intentions when buying kitchen gadgets, thousands of blenders, grills, steamers and juicers lie idle on worktops. Kitchen gadgets appear to have become merely decorative items in the kitchen for millions of wannabe chefs.”
He went on to report that those looking to use gadgets such as an electric carving knife or blow torch when attempting to whip up their latest culinary delight should make sure that they always read the instructions first. Mr Rochester stated that such items have the potential to cause “extensive damage” to a home as well as personal injury.
According to the firm, some 64 million pounds of damage in the kitchen has been caused by would-be chefs using an appliance. It was also reported that men are more likely to have cooking catastrophe than women.
Those consumers who are looking to purchase top quality cooking gadgets might wish to take out a personal loan. In doing so, borrowers could find that they are able to buy items such as cutlery, ovens and microwaves quickly and effectively. The financial assistance that a loan brings could also help borrowers to purchase a comprehensive home insurance policy.
Getting a loan to finance a personal passion could also be of particular assistance for older people after a recent study by RIAS showed those over the age of 50 are increasingly using technology. The firm revealed that more than 40 per cent of “silver surfers” own a laptop, while over a fifth own an mp3 player.
