Brits spend eight days a year on life admin

Between medical appointments, bill-paying, DIY and suchlike admin tasks, Noddle.co.uk estimates that we now need 10 days per year just to work through all our life administration. Unfortunately, it seems that people are only spending eight days on it, which means some tasks could be rushed or ignored entirely.

According to their research, the tasks that get left by the wayside the most are home maintenance (36%), keeping an eye on that crucial credit rating (26%), organising social events (20%) and making appointments with the GP or dentist (20%). Of course, everyone's situation is different, so we'll all have different priorities – and different things that we find easier to ignore.

While some may be able to cope, 20% feel their life admin is out of control, and 32% said it's making them stressed. They may have a point as well, as 16% have fallen behind on their financial obligations because they haven't spent enough time on them, with 14% saying this has affected their credit score – which is understandably stressful.

Given the importance of having a good credit rating for anything from applying for a credit card to getting a good mortgage deal, it's obviously something that requires a watchful eye. Maybe that's why 26% of Brits admitted to doing this type of administrative work at their job, with 35% using weekends and holidays to get back on top of things.

"We live busy lives; juggling work, kids and life admin can be really difficult. It's no surprise that so many of us struggle to keep on top of everything," Jacqueline Dewey, managing director at Noddle.co.uk, commented. "However, as innocent as it can seem, not being on top of life admin can have consequences for our financial health. That's why it's so important to remember to check your credit report, [so] you can keep track of your payments, check that information is correct and identify any potential fraud."

What next?

To help, we've got a dedicated page with all the major credit check providers for people to peruse, as well as a guide on how to improve your credit score, so you can be better prepared when applying for a credit card, loan or mortgage.