Signs you’re turning into your parents

It’s an inevitability – and for most, it happens at the average age of forty-three, according to a new poll…

Complaining about the weather is the top sign you’ve become your mum or dad, with 36 percent choosing this trait as the top indicator in a recent survey. Dressing for comfort (31 percent), liking to be tucked up before 10pm (27 percent), feeling guilty for lying in at the weekend (15 percent) and not recognising new music in the charts (21 percent) also made the list – as did switching radio stations to something more “calming” (14 percent) and repeating the same old jokes. (13 percent)

According to the poll, women begin to exhibit their parents’ behaviour slightly earlier than men – at 42 on average, while men don’t turn into their parents until age 45. Meanwhile, 61 percent admit they’ve found themselves buying the same things as their parents, from furniture to fashion accessories.

So, it’s little wonder that 94 percent of Britons believe that certain family traits are genetic, getting passed down through generations. The research, commissioned by M&S Credit Card, also reveals half of Britons (58 percent) have noticed their own partners behaving more like their parents as they age – with nearly all (95 percent) believing this has become more obvious as they’ve got older.

And the majority are embracing the shift, with over a quarter (27 percent) finding the idea of turning into their parents amusing. Following your parents’ lead can also have a positive financial impact, as 20 percent say that one of the tell-tale signs is undertaking a regular review of your finances. One in six (17 percent) say starting to use loyalty cards and rewards vouchers is a sign you’ve turned into your parents.

Paul Stokes, from M&S Credit Card:

“It’s clear to see that many of us find ourselves turning into our parents as we get older, but that isn’t such a bad thing, especially if we’re following in their financially savvy footsteps.

“Taking their parents’ lead, shoppers are embracing the power of loyalty and reward programmes to ensure they’re maximising their hard-earned money. Using them to make the most out of their purchases, whether treating themselves or helping the everyday budget stretch further, ensuring their loyalty is not just appreciated but also rewarded”.

87 percent of those surveyed agree that you learn how to be a parent yourself, from your own parents. And over two thirds (78 percent) acknowledge that having their own children made them realise just how similar they are to their mum and dad. 

Signs you’re becoming like your parents…

1. You complain about the weather      36%
2. You fall asleep on the sofa in the evenings     33%
3. You’ve started dressing for comfort      31%
4. You like to be tucked up in bed before 10pm     27%
5. People say “you look JUST like your mum / dad”     27%
6. You don’t recognise the latest music in the charts    21%
7. You start to monitor your household energy consumption   21%
8. You’ve taken up gardening        21%
9. You review your finances on a regular basis     20%
10. You have a favourite chair       20%
11. You’ve finally realised your parents were right all along    20%
12. You use loyalty cards and count your rewards or points    17%
13. You have a hot water bottle       17%
14. You start to pack your holiday suitcase “neatly”     17%
15. You stop accepting invitations to parties that start after 8pm    16%
16. You feel guilty if you sleep in past 8am      15%
17. You’ve made a household “budget” which you stick to     15%
18. You’ve switched to a more calming radio station     14%
19. You repeat the same jokes        13%
20. You have a thicker duvet for the winter       13%