The UK's Commitment Crisis: Brits Embrace 'Now' Living

One in four Brits are self-confessed commitment-phobes, afraid to lock themselves into things such as phone contracts and even relationships.

A poll of 2,000 adults found 21 per cent have decided to rent rather than buy their own home, as they can't decide where they want to live in the long run.

And 33 per cent have opted not to sign up for a gym membership, in case they change their mind down the line.

It seems as a nation, we are redefining our relationship with long-term commitments with more than a tenth (15 per cent) preferring to borrow or lease a car over buying one, as they aren’t sure about future needs.

And 13 per cent even confess they don’t like the idea of staying in a job for longer than a year.

A further eight in 10 also carry this way of thinking into their personal life, saying flexibility is ‘important’ to them.

Marc Pell, Managing Director at temporary car insurance company Tempcover, which commissioned the research, said: “Flexibility is paramount in today's fast-changing world; it’s driving a shift away from long-term commitments in favour of adaptable options like phone contracts, gym memberships and car ownership.”

“This re-think of traditional models reflects a desire for temporary services that suit evolving needs in real-time. After all, finances can fluctuate, and personal circumstances evolve, making flexibility more valuable than ever.”

The study went on to find 51 per cent of respondents wish they could be more flexible in life, while 76 per cent feel life is simpler with fewer commitments.

Of those who consider flexibility important, 56 per cent value time for personal hobbies and interests, while 39 per cent want to be able to travel or go on a spontaneous trip.

More than a quarter (27 per cent) also reckon it helps them balance their work and personal lives, according to the OnePoll.com figures.

Just over half (51 per cent) consider being tied into a long-term commitment to be very or quite stressful.

Key reasons for this include feeling ‘trapped’ by the commitment (41 per cent), having anxieties about having made the wrong choice (38 per cent) and feeling overwhelmed by long-term responsibility (32 per cent).

For 29 per cent, a shift away from long-term commitments led to a better quality of life through a greater sense of control.

A little over four in 10 (44 per cent) would consider using a streaming service that doesn’t have a long-term contract.

While 39 per cent would consider a flexible mobile phone plan they could pick up and drop when suitable to them.

And a fifth (21 per cent) would be interested in temporary car insurance that could let them borrow a car or share a long drive, if needed.     

Marc Pell of Tempcover added: “This shift towards temporary isn’t necessarily about avoiding commitment altogether; rather it reflects a deeper focus on self-determination.”  

“As expectations change, rigid contracts and outdated structures may no longer fit a world where convenience and personalisation takes precedence, giving people greater freedom and control to shape their lives as they choose to.”