All Britons millionaires

All Britons millionaires -- over a life-time
Tue Apr 26, 2005 04:31 PM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - The average Briton spends around 1.5 million pounds during adulthood, according to a survey on Tuesday.
The basics of shelter, food and clothing account for one-third of the total, according to the survey by insurer Prudential, with tax accounting for about one-fifth and leisure slightly less.

"The old saying goes that there are only two certainties in life -- death and taxes. We'd add 'expense' to that small and somewhat grim list," said director Angus Maciver.

The survey found men give 30 percent more to charity than do women.

But the average man will also spend 98,000 pounds on nights out -- 40 percent more than women -- two and a half times more on electronic gadgets, twice as much on hobbies and sports and 66 percent more on cars.

Overall the average male cost of living at 1.7 million pounds is 21 percent higher than women's 1.4 million.

As expected, London is the most expensive part of the country in which to live, with the average person spending just over two million pounds from the age of 18 to the grave.