Report: Teens

Finance

How much pocket money/wages do receive? What do you spend it on?
The average amount received is £60-£80 per month which is an allowance from parents.
The teens with jobs receive between £100-£200 per month.
Money is mainly spent on going out, clothes, music, gadgets and girlfriends!

Who do you bank with and why?
The majority of respondents are with the same bank as their parents and their accounts were opened or recommended by them.
The older teens look for banks that offer good deals for students or free gifts.
The most important feature though is safety – the teens want to feel that their money is safe.
Other influences on choice of bank include liking the adverts – (Halifax) and being talks at schools from different banks.

3. Do you have any savings, what are they for?
Over half of the respondents were saving for a car or driving lessons.
Other were putting money away for university or saving for gap years.
Many of respondents revealed that they are unsure what they saving for but that the money is for the ‘future’.
Where do you conduct your banking?
69% prefer to do their banking in branch and although they use the internet frequently they are still wary and don’t trust online banking.

Media & Technology

What are your favourite websites to visit?
MySpace and MSN are the top sites to visit because teens can meet their friends there.
Other websites that are visited frequently by this age group are Yahoo, Ebay, Google and the BBC.

What are your favourite gadgets and why?
Mobile phones are most definitely the best gadgets for the teens, followed closely by iPods and MP3 players. Also mentioned were games consoles such as PSPs and hair straightners for the girls.

Which mobile phone tariff are you on and what do you look for in mobile phone provider?
Teens want free texts and lots of them! Texting is the preferred method of communication and respondents look for good deals that offer lots of free texts and cheap calls.
They also take into consideration upgrades and customer service – they want to feel valued as a customer and rewarded for loyalty.

What are your favourite TV shows?
Teens shows like Hollyoaks and The O.C scored highly, as did Big Brother and Lost.
Respondents also like to watch American programmes such as Desperate Housewives, My Wife & Kids, and Friends.

What magazines and newspapers do you buy?
Teens like to buy tabloids for sport and gossip content.
Girls like magazines such as Heat, Glamour, More and Cosmo for fashion and gossip.

Do you use MSN or write/read blogs?
Teens love MSN because they can talk to their friends unlimited without cost. Some find it additive and use it to make new friends. MSN also allows them to learn more about their friends and talk to people they perhaps wouldn’t have the confidence to call on the phone.

Retail

How often do you go shopping and what do you buy?
Teens go shopping on average once a fortnight and like to buy clothes, computer games, make up and trainers.
Girls like to buy tops and if they have extra money then they will buy jeans or accessories to go with the top.

Who do you go shopping with?
Teens prefer to shop with their friends but admit to going with their mum if they have no money or need them to buy more expensive items!

Do you shop online? What do you buy?
The majority do not shop online because they don’t trust online payment options; it’s too much hassle because you have to use a credit card and because it’s boring! Many of respondents like shopping on the high street because it is something to do and online shopping can’t offer this. They like the experience of trying clothes on and going out of the house.
The internet is used to purchase items when teens perceive that they can save money doing so – CDs, computer games and things that they can’t find on the high street so they use Ebay.

Which do you think are the best shops for your age group?
For the boys it was sports stores like JD, FootLocker and JJB.
Girls prefer H&M, Topshop, Primark and New Look. This is because they offer stylish, fashionable clothes that aren’t too expensive.
Other shops that are appealing are any that offer student discount or items at reasonable prices.

Work & Leisure

What do you like to do with your friends?
Hanging out together, going to the cinema and parties or getting drunk is how the teens like to spend their spare time.

Do you do any hobbies /sporting activities?
Most of the teens like to do some sort of physical activity, from dance to football.
More artistic past times include drama, writing and performing in bands.

What are your career aspirations?
The respondents are keen to move into well-paid and traditional occupations including law and medicine. Others however are unsure and prefer to think short term about their future, knowing only that they want to go to university.

What do you like/dislike about your part time job?
Long hours and poor pay were top of the list for dislikes but teens like the money and status that is attached to having a part time job. Having good colleagues and respectful employers is also a bonus.

Top Brands

What are the cool brands at the moment for clothing?
The usual suspects here, namely Nike and Adidas but also newer names including Echo and Favourite Stars & Stripes.
High street brands like Topshop and French Connection are also cool.

What are the seriously uncool brands to be seen in?
Answers include very cheap labels such as Hi-Tech, George and Donnelly.
Other uncool brands are Fila, Burberry and Playboy. Any brand with Chav associations, that is too cheap or poor quality is deemed uncool by the teens.

What are your favourite brands for electronics?
Sony was the clear favourite because it is regarded as reliable, good quality and because its products look expensive.
Apple was also mentioned, largely due to its iPods and other answers revolved around mobile phones, e.g. Nokia, Samsung and Motorola.

Are they any brand that you won’t buy?
Brands that have been dismissed by friends put the teens off from buying. These include 3G phones, Alba and any cheap brands that they have never heard of.

What are the top restaurants and food brands?
Teens love to eat at Nandos and Pizza Express when they want a proper sit down meal. For snacks on the go MacDonalds and Subway offer inexpensive nosh that they love to munch.

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