Peter Pan generation refusing to grow up

THE UK is living in Neverland, with a third of Britons refusing to grow up, according to a survey.

Today’s Peter Pan generation are turning their backs on “adulthood milestones” like marriage and starting a family, with more than a quarter admitting they lack the skills to live alone.

Research released by life insurance expert Confused. com showed 32% of people aged 25-39 are still living with their parents.

Nearly two-thirds (63%) turn their backs on marriage, with nearly the same proportion (60%) delaying starting a family.

The figures, based on people in the UK between 18 and 39, found most of the stay-at-home sons and daughters are not ready to move out, with 27% of adults admitting they lack basic skills to live alone.

One in three (32%) do not even do their own washing — men are the worst offenders, with nearly half (47%) of men below 40 leaving their washing to their partners, parents or housemates.

Women are slightly better, but more than a fifth (21%) still rely on others to clean up after them.

A third of people between 18 and 39 change their bedsheets once a month or less, while 34% rarely or never cook for themselves.

The research, conducted by OnePoll for Confused. com in August, surveyed 2,000 respondents.

It also found almost half (49%) of Britain’s “Peter Pan generation” is in debt of more than £ 9,000, excluding mortgages.

Matt Lloyd, head of life insurance at Confused. com, said: “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being young at heart, but living for today doesn’t mean you have to totally ignore tomorrow.

“What we recommend to people in their 20s is to start thinking now to see what they could be doing to make proper provisions for the future.

“Starting a savings account, a pension plan and putting in place life insurance are just some of the basics that can make a big difference to people’s f inancial security and they’re really not as complicated as people think.”