26th Feb 10
Britons living worse off than rest of Europe
by Adam Richards
Research has shown that Brits earn more money, however have a lower quality of life than those living in other European countries.
Britons are forced to endure long working hours, lower holiday entitlement and a high cost of living contributed to Britain’s bottom place ranking in a survey of 10 European countries.
The uSwitch.com European Quality of Life Index found that Britain had the highest net household income – £35,730 a year, more than £10,000 above the average in Europe.
But most of it had been spent on keeping a roof over our heads, food on the table, and our homes warm, according to the research.
Researchers compared 17 variables, including life expectancy, holiday entitlements, lworking hours, the cost of essential goods, and income taxes.
Spain and France topped the list in terms of quality of life.
Britons had the lowest number of holiday days a year and paid the most for diesel and food.
Spaniards get 41 days of holiday per year, where as Brits have a mere 28 in comparison.
The average retirement age of the ten European countries is 62 – but UK workers can expect to carry on six months longer, according to the survey.
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