Northerners are more interested in splashing out on expensive material goods than southerners, according to a new survey.

It claims that people living in the south of England get more satisfaction from the simple pleasures in life, such as spending time with family, than with flashing their cash.

It found that in some parts of the north of England, spending money on material goods was regarded as defining a good quality of life.

A quarter of northerners said they believed driving an expensive car was essential for a contented life - nationally only 14 per cent agreed.

Owning designer-label goods and clothes was cited as the key to happiness by almost a quarter of people in the North, but by only 15 per cent nationally.

What do you reckon's most important? Let us know.

I'm from the north and I spend all my money on biscuits.

I'm from the northwest and I don't buy designer clothes

The survey goes on the say that northerners spend all their money on flat caps and whippets, whereas southerners spend their money on bowler hats and monocles.

Yup me luv. 'T'Wippit tuk all me munee fah fud.

Sorry to be so sarcky - it's a northern trait!

Maybe the fact that houses are so much more expensive 'dahn sarf' means that the shandy drinkers have less disposable income to spend on designer clothes and sports cars so they say that they're less important to them to make it look as though family and tree hugging are more important so they still feel superior.

Sorry again, really bad experience with a BF who went to London to work for Arthur Andersens and thought it was the centre of the Universe and anyone north of the M25 was a Northern Oik.

OK, you touched a raw nerve, I need therapy (oh no, I'm from oop north, not the US, I need dunking int local river in November and thrashing wi' a big branch)......)

i'm from the south and i do like the simple pleasures - i rarely spend on 'flash things - 90% of what i own is second hand
however - next door neighbour - spends money like water - every day another delivery van with nice things. also have a good friend 'up north' that's the same as me, enjous family rather than spending out

I do wonder who takes part in these surveys actually, like you Sunny, I know plenty of people here in the North who spend loads of money on flash things, but I also know just as many for who friends and family are more important. Same as people down South. I wouldn't say there is a divide at all.

quote:

Originally posted by queenstomper:
I do wonder who takes part in these surveys actually

They are clearly made up by the work experience kids at Channel 4. (The same ones who write the scripts for Hollyoaks).

Maybe southerners' "extravagances" are not as tangible as cars or clothes because there is more choice of less tangible stuff (particularly in London of course).

Maybe it's dinner at a well-known restaurant, tickets for a concert / theatre show / sporting event, afternoon tea at a top hotel, triop to Paris on Eurostar etc.

I live in the North and have some expensive clothes. But I also have a rule that I never pay full price for anything. Quality clothes last for years so they can always be bought when the sales are on. So an £80 shirt will not be bought until the final reduction sales and I'll end up getting 3 or 4 for the same price and these will last for ages. Using this rule I have never paid full price for a pair of shoes. I suspect those in the south may not be as prudent.