Fears for my childrens future - region results!

Earlier this year I was asked by a company what my mains concerns for the future for me and my children were. I have to admit if I had a crystal ball and could see that my children grew up to be healthy and happy I don’t think I would want anything else from life!

But is that enough? With terrorists threat offered daily, house prices soaring and every day the news being almost impossible to read, is happy and healthy enough? I was led when I was younger to believe that if you worked hard and played nice then life would be easier for you. Hmm.

Take a look at Pocketful of Ryes article who shared the results of my voucher codes survey where they asked 1000 families across the UK their top concerns for their children’s futures. They then broke the down by region:

  London - Financial instability and economy – 48%

  Scotland - Extremism, terrorism and safety – 30%

  South West - Extremism, terrorism and safety – 43%

  South East - House prices and high rents – 75%

  Wales - Financial instability and economy – 60%

  West Midlands - Financial instability and economy – 71%

  East Midlands - House prices and high rents – 40%

  Yorkshire & the Humber - Financial instability and economy – 60%

  North East - Financial instability and economy – 57%

  North West - Extremism, terrorism and safety – 68%

  Northern Ireland - House prices and high rents – 33%

I spoke to friends in each of these regions and surprisingly most agreed with the results. The overwhelming concern though seems to be money issues. When my grandma first bought her house 60 years ago it cost a good couple of years’ worth of salary to pay back if you watched your money. How many of us can say hand on heart that we could pay off our mortgage in a couple of years? And just how extreme will it be in another 20 years when my children want to buy? It is a worry yes but I wouldn’t say that to me it’s a top concern for their future. And yet for the south east that the main concern. I do hope by the time they are older and at work the economy will have become more stable. My youngest wants to be a farmer and that really worrys me. What hope do dairy farmers have in this economy?! It HAS to change!

Safety & terrorism now, that terrifies me. My world, as did everyone’s, changed dramatically on 11/09 and terrorism became a gut wrenching daily threat, especially to those who work and live in the cities. I suppose THAT hand on heart is what worries me most. I worry when my husband has to fly abroad for work, if he has to go London for the day. He tells me (having gone through before – he’s South African) that it will work out. It will be ok, it will not be so extreme in ten, twenty years’ time but still there is that flicker of fear for the world my children will grow up which changes daily!

So what are your fears for you children? Do they agree with table above?