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10 METRO Monday, July 7, 2008 D We’ll tighten the belt, literally Less is more: Respondents to our survey say the first things to cut back on are eating out, going out, entertainment and shopping – especially for clothing and footwear Picture: Rex Features What is Urban life all aboUt? Urban Life is Metro’s innovative study of ‘Urbanites’ – young, full-time working professionals in Greater Dublin. Every year we research the opinions of 2,000 Metro readers, asking for their views on everything from current affairs to must- see movies. n What do I get out of it? We’re giving away €27,000 in prizes – hundreds of €30 HMV vouchers and €1,000 in cash after each survey. If you complete five or more of our six surveys, you will be entered into our €3,000 prize draw. n What’s involved? The survey is sent to Urban Life members every six to eight weeks. All surveys are online and only take 15 minutes. n Sign me up now Visit www.myurbanlife.ie/join or FREE TEXT to 50400. Text TNS (space) first name (space) e-mail address to register your interest in taking part. i RELAND has gone from the excitement of bounding Celtic Tigers and explosive economic booms, to the doom and gloom of recessions and belt-tightening. While it gives us something different to moan about (other than the weather), what exactly does the recession mean to Urbanites? Metro asked our Urbanite panel: if you had less spare cash to spend, which of the following areas would you cut back spending on? And it was eating habits that became the first victim: Almost two- thirds said they would eat out in restaurants less, while more than half said they would cut down on buying expensive food items. Some 45 per cent said they would go out to pubs and clubs less, 40 per cent would attend less concerts, and 22 per cent would cut down on cinema tickets. While 43 per cent said they would buy fewer clothes – 24 per cent on footwear in particular, 31 per cent said they would take fewer trips abroad, and 16 per cent would do less domestic travelling. With a construction sector collapse a key factor in bringing about the recession, Urbanites appear to be happy to wait and see just how far property prices will fall. When asked if they were intending to buy a property this year, 76 per cent said No, and only 15 per cent said Yes – the remainder were undecided. However, almost three in every five Urbanites claim that the current economic climate has not made them defer their decision to buy a home in Ireland. Despite being the flavour of the month at the peak of the property boom, 100 per cent mortgages seem to have fallen out of favour – more than 50 per cent of Urbanites would not take one on if it was offered by a lender. In fact, 45 per cent of Metro’s Urbanite panel – made up of young professionals working in the capital – believe that the changes in the property market are being over- hyped in the media. As for the man who – according to Opposition parties – led us into this recession, 42 per cent believe Taoiseach Brian Cowen is right for the job. Some 22 per cent disagree, while 36 per cent said they would wait and see before drawing any conclusions.

Transcript

10 METRO Monday, July 7, 2008 D

We’ll tighten the belt, literally

Less is more:Respondentsto our surveysay the firstthings to cutback on areeating out,going out,entertainmentand shopping– especiallyfor clothingand footwear

Picture: Rex Features

What is Urbanlife all aboUt?Urban Life is Metro’s innovativestudy of ‘Urbanites’ – young,full-time working professionalsin Greater Dublin. Every yearwe research the opinions of2,000 Metro readers, askingfor their views on everythingfrom current affairs to must-see movies.

n What do I get out of it?We’re giving away €27,000 inprizes – hundreds of €30 HMVvouchers and €1,000 in cashafter each survey. If youcomplete five or more of oursix surveys, you will be enteredinto our €3,000 prize draw.

n What’s involved?The survey is sent to UrbanLife members every six to eightweeks. All surveys are onlineand only take 15 minutes.

n Sign me up nowVisit www.myurbanlife.ie/join orFREE TEXT to 50400. TextTNS (space) first name (space)e-mail address to register yourinterest in taking part.

iRELAND has gone from theexcitement of bounding CelticTigers and explosive economic

booms, to the doom and gloom ofrecessions and belt-tightening.While it gives us something

different to moan about (other thanthe weather), what exactly does therecession mean to Urbanites?Metro asked our Urbanite panel: if

you had less spare cash to spend,which of the following areas wouldyou cut back spending on?And it was eating habits that

became the first victim: Almost two-thirds said they would eat out inrestaurants less, while more thanhalf said they would cut down onbuying expensive food items.Some 45 per cent said they would

go out to pubs and clubs less, 40 percent would attend less concerts, and22 per cent would cut down oncinema tickets. While 43 per centsaid they would buy fewer clothes –24 per cent on footwear in particular,31 per cent said they would takefewer trips abroad, and 16 per centwould do less domestic travelling.With a construction sector collapse

a key factor in bringing about therecession, Urbanites appear to behappy to wait and see just how farproperty prices will fall.

When asked if they were intendingto buy a property this year, 76 percent said No, and only 15 per centsaidYes – the remainder wereundecided.However, almost three in every five

Urbanites claim that the currenteconomic climate has not madethem defer their decision to buy ahome in Ireland.

Despite being the flavour of themonth at the peak of the propertyboom, 100 per cent mortgages seemto have fallen out of favour – morethan 50 per cent of Urbanites wouldnot take one on if it was offered by alender.In fact, 45 per cent of Metro’s

Urbanite panel – made up of youngprofessionals working in the capital

– believe that the changes in theproperty market are being over-hyped in the media.As for the man who – according to

Opposition parties – led us into thisrecession, 42 per cent believeTaoiseach Brian Cowen is right for thejob. Some 22 per cent disagree, while36 per cent said they would wait andsee before drawing any conclusions.

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