Does Distance Make The Heart Grow Fonder?

Do you sleep in a separate bed or even bedroom or do you always share your bed with your partner? It seems many couples find that ‘time out’ from each other strengthens their relationship.

A new study by esure home insurance, reveals that 10% of British couples sleep in separate bedrooms every night of the week and some 13% sleep in separate beds at least once a week – do you fall into either of these categories?

There are 22% of couples who say they have ‘time out’ from each other to do separate things such as staying with friends or family.

Maybe all this is not so surprising – take, for example, Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton who sleep in adjoining houses because of Burton’s snoring.

We like doing a lot of things individually too -

• 7% of Brits have a separate bathroom from their partner
• 18% watch TV or read a book in a separate room
• 12% have their own room which they do not allow their other half to spend time in – 10% of men have a games room and 4% of women have their own powder room.

Perhaps distance does make the heart grow fonder. The study found that almost 40% of Brits believe they have a healthier relationship with their partner because they have greater independence in their home life and 5% think that having separate rooms is one of the main reasons they are so happy in their relationship.

According to the findings, British couples only spend the equivalent of just over four hours a day together.  Hectic work schedules, seeing friends and going to the gym all put pressure on how ‘quality time’ can be spent together.

Nikki Sellers, Head of Home Underwriting at esure, said:  ”As couples become more independent from each other it is important they are both aware of the joint value of their posessions and sums of money they keep around their home and should check their contents insurance policy limit to ensure they won’t be left short-changed if the items in their home were stolen or destroyed.”

Do you holiday separate from your partner?

If you do you are not alone. Over than a third of Brits admit they have been on a separate holiday without their partner and an amazing 8% say they would always choose to go away with their friends or family over their other half.

With almost half of Brits believing that having separate tastes and hobbies makes for a stronger relationship, it’s perhaps not too surprising to learn that 54% have entirely different interests or hobbies to their partner.

MoneyHighStreet comments: “All very interesting reading. A quick pole around the office here reveals we have a lower percentage of couples who sleep in separate bedrooms once a week but have a slightly higher percentage when it comes to sleeping in a separate bed – noone has the luxury or misfortune, depending on how you look at it, to sleep in adjoining houses.

“Another fact revealed by the study shows that 7% of Brits spend more time with their pets than their partner with 5% even revealing they would rather spend a night in with their cat or dog than with their other half.

“Perhaps this links in with the fact that many pet owners confide in their pet before their partner.

“As Nikki points out though, on a serious note, whatever your domestic arrangements don’t lose sight of your home insurance or indeed any other insurance needs.

“It could easily happen if you’re both concentrating on your own belongings for example and forgetting about the over value of the contents in your home as required to be covered by your contents insurance – the last thing you want is to find you are underinsured should you need to make a claim.”