# THESE are the status symbols that impress Brits the most – how many do you have?
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2018-02-08
Category: LIFESTYLE
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/lifestyle
Meta Title: Owning a Holiday Home: 53% of Brits See Success
Meta Description: Discover why owning a holiday home is a status symbol for over half of Brits and what other indicators of success resonate with UK adults. Learn more!
Tags: featured
Tag URLs: featured (https://financedigest.com/tag/featured)
URL: https://financedigest.com/these-are-the-status-symbols-that-impress-brits-the-most-how-many-do-you-havehtml

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- Owning a holiday home is a sign of success for more than half (53%) of Brits
- Taking early retirement is the status symbol that most people aspire to (44%)
- Nearly four in ten (37%) admit to paying attention to what other people have, but say it doesn’t influence their own purchase habits
- Women are more impressed by status symbols, but more men aspire to own them

Do you own a holiday home? If so, over half of Brits think you’re successful, with 53% of the nation identifying this as a sign that someone is doing well in life according to new research by personal loan provider, Hitachi Personal Finance.

The [study of 2,000 UK adults reveals what Britons see as indicators of success](https://www.financedigest.com/astrazeneca-antibody-cocktail-study-shows-success-treating-covid-19.html "AstraZeneca antibody cocktail study shows success treating COVID-19") and which of these status symbols we aspire to own ourselves, which doesn’t always align.

Though a holiday [home came up trumps](https://www.financedigest.com/fbi-searches-trumps-florida-home-as-part-of-presidential-records-probe.html "FBI searches Trump’s Florida home as part of presidential records probe") on the list of status symbols, only 37% aspired to own one themselves. In fact, early retirement came [top of the ‘aspired after’ list](https://www.financedigest.com/sport-ronaldo-tops-forbes-highest-paid-athletes-list-in-2023-after-saudi-move.html "Sport-Ronaldo tops Forbes’ highest-paid athletes list in 2023 after Saudi move") (44%), higher than owning any physical item, including a new car (27%), smart TV (21%) or double garage (20%).

The top five indicators of ‘someone doing well in life’ were:

1. Owning a holiday home (53%)
2. Early retirement (49%)
3. A brand-new car with a new registration plate (37%)
4. Wine cellar (27%)
5. Having a cleaner (26%)

Slightly off-kilter with what people aspired to have themselves:

1. Early retirement (44%)
2. A holiday home (37%)
3. A walk-in wardrobe (29%)
4. A brand-new car with a new registration plate (27%)
5. Having a cleaner (23%)

The study also looked at [consumer buying behaviours](https://www.financedigest.com/from-in-store-to-online-how-the-pandemic-affected-consumer-behaviour.html "From in Store to Online: How the Pandemic affected Consumer Behaviour") and how these differ between men and women. According to the data, women are more likely than men to see ownership of the items listed as indicators of success, with a [higher percentage identifying 15 of the items](https://www.financedigest.com/mcdonalds-sales-soar-on-higher-u-s-prices-newer-menu-items.html "McDonald’s sales soar on higher U.S. prices, newer menu items") as ‘status symbols’, as opposed to men.

Surprisingly, [women were more impressed than men by someone owning a brand](https://www.financedigest.com/top-brands-for-women.html "Top brands for women") new car (41% vs 32%) or having the latest smartphone or gadget (16% vs 12%).

Well over half of women (56%) admit to [paying attention](https://www.financedigest.com/why-should-investors-be-paying-more-attention-to-open-source-software.html "Why should investors be paying more attention to open source software?") to what other people have, as opposed to just 46% of men, but it seems that for men owning these items is a priority, with a higher percentage of men than women adding 15 of the 24 items to their ‘wish list’, including the brand new car (29% vs 25%).

Hitachi’s research has also looked at the evolution of status symbols throughout the decades, going back to the 1950s when a toaster was a highly sought-after item.

Overall, the [research highlighted a shift in the type of items seen as having status](https://www.financedigest.com/diabetic-foot-ulcers-and-pressure-ulcers-market-revenue-status-and-outlook-2016-2024-detailed-in-new-research-report.html "Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Pressure Ulcers Market Revenue Status and Outlook 2016-2024 Detailed in New Research Report"), with greater focus on improving quality of life as opposed to ‘keeping up with the Joneses’.

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from Hitachi Personal Finance, said: “Status symbols have always been a hot topic throughout the decades, but what we as a nation aspire to have, and respect as a sign of success in others, is certainly changing.

“Looking at our timeline, we can see that what were once considered luxuries, such as toasters and washing machines, are now everyday essentials. On the other hand, some of the status symbols of today may well have been commonplace in the 50s and 60s, such as [wood floors](https://www.financedigest.com/north-america-residential-wood-flooring-market-expansive-coverage-on-the-latest-trends-and-developments-in-the-market.html "North America Residential Wood Flooring Market – Expansive Coverage on the Latest Trends and Developments in the Market") and log burners. Based on our research, it’s a very real possibility that we could soon see the resurgence of some classics from the 80s and 90s, which we’re already finding with the revival of vinyl records and retro games. It’s interesting to think about what the [future will hold](https://www.financedigest.com/what-does-the-future-hold-for-corporate-payments.html "What Does the Future Hold for Corporate Payments?") and when the status symbols of this generation will begin to become outdated!”


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