Brits reveal their most common household arguments...

BRITAIN'S most common household squabbles have been settled by research. The poll, commissioned by Smart Energy GB, found that most British homes are in agreement when it comes to household rules. 70 per cent of the 2,000 adults polled agreed that it is acceptable to have a TV in the bedroom. That same percentage said that tech should always be switched off completely when it isn't being used though. Households were split over dishes being rinsed before going into the dishwasher, with half saying “yes” and the other half saying “no”.

Image Credit: The Sun [A young boy sits at a kitchen counter, looking at the camera, while his parents argue in the background.]

The average dinner time was found to be 6.41pm. Overall, the tidiness of the home came out as the most common debate households have, followed by the volume of devices such as the TV and phone. However, another topic that causes issues was energy consumption, particularly when it comes to heat the home. Partnering with Smart Energy GB, squabblers and podcasters Kate Lawler and her husband Boj opened up about how buying a smart meter settled their debate.

Image Credit: The Sun [A woman points to a light switch while a man stands with his arms crossed.]

Kate said: “As two foodies, most of our debates tend to happen in the kitchen, but not just about what we’re cooking. “Boj taught me everything I know about how to load a dishwasher, but somehow, he still always manages to put it on when it’s only half full. “Whilst there are some rituals I won’t budge on, having a smart meter has been a real game changer when it comes to settling our household debates.”.

Energy continues to split households though, with 35 per cent of homeowners admitting that they get into energy-related debates at least once a week. The same amount – 35 per cent – of those who argue about energy consumption admitted their smart meter has helped them reach more common ground. Victoria Bacon, director at Smart Energy GB, said: “Every household has its favourite debates. “Our research shows that a little flexibility can really help with those niggles that seem to be a common theme for so many of us.

“When juggling our daily routines, we all need to negotiate and compromise from time to time, but having tools like a smart meter and in-home display to hand can help people make informed choices to save money and energy.”. The survey found that 38 per cent also use their smart meter to access energy reward schemes. The schemes suit flexible schedules and can help households save some money on their bills.