| Although it is easy to think of the latest gadgets being | | | | In not having an adequate personal possession |
| solely used by today's young people, a significant | | | | insurance policy - or indeed lacking cover altogether - it |
| number of older consumers are making use of | | | | may be possible that Brits have to dip into their own |
| technological advances. | | | | pockets in order to meet the cost of repairs or to |
| In a study carried out by RIAS it was indicated that | | | | replace lost or stolen items. This could have an impact |
| many Britons over the age of 50 are getting on the | | | | upon their ability to manage other demands on their |
| information superhighway. According to the financial | | | | finances in areas such as loan repayments, credit |
| services provider such consumers account for just | | | | cards and household bills. |
| under a third (30 per cent) of all internet users, the | | | | Commenting on the figures, Janet Connor, managing |
| fastest-growing demographic across the country. The | | | | director for RIAS, said: "The readiness to adopt new |
| firm also indicated that about four-fifths (79 per cent) | | | | technology being demonstrated by the over-50s |
| of older online users have visited video website | | | | doesn't surprise us. We know from feedback from our |
| YouTube, while 17 per cent have downloaded either | | | | customers that items such as computers, laptops, |
| music or a podcast from the internet. | | | | mobile phones and iPods/mp3 players are no longer |
| Meanwhile, over 40 per cent of "silver surfers" own a | | | | considered 'gadgets', or as the domain of the young, |
| laptop computer, with 92 per cent having made use of | | | | but as essential household items." |
| a broadband connection. Some 19 per cent were | | | | "Householders need to reassess and, if necessary, |
| indicated as having a media centre PC. However, it is | | | | update the value of their home contents to account |
| not just computing in which older Britons are shown to | | | | for these new purchases and ensure all their |
| be technologically savvy as slightly more than a fifth | | | | possessions are adequately covered by their policies," |
| have either an iPod or some other form of mp3 player. | | | | Ms Connor added. |
| For those looking for an effective way in which to | | | | For those consumers on the lookout for a |
| finance purchasing a computer, personal music player | | | | high-performance PC, an iPhone or some other |
| or any other kind of expensive electrical appliance, | | | | expensive technological gadget, obtaining a personal |
| taking out a personal loan might be advisable. | | | | loan may be recommended. Getting a loan may also |
| Overall, it was indicated that those over the age of 50 | | | | provide borrowers with enough disposable income with |
| account for two-fifths of the country's total consumer | | | | which to take out a comprehensive insurance policy. |
| spending, while they hold 80 per cent of Britain's | | | | Meanwhile, getting a loan may also be recommended |
| personal wealth. However, despite such financial | | | | for those consumers who are looking to for an |
| stature that such adults may hold, it was suggested | | | | effective way to finance their passion for football. In a |
| that many consumers could be placing themselves at | | | | study carried out by Virgin Money in March it was |
| financial risk. RIAS claimed some people may be | | | | revealed that the typical supporter spent some 1,080 |
| undervaluing how much hi-tech equipment actually | | | | pounds in 2007 getting behind their team in areas such |
| costs as they - often mistakenly - think such items are | | | | as tickets, merchandise, food, travel and programmes. |
| less expensive than furniture or jewellery. | | | | |