Becoming your parents might seem like an amusing cliché, but a new survey suggests it happens sooner than you think—at the grand old average age of 43.
According to the poll, moaning about the weather is our number-one giveaway sign, with 36% of respondents admitting they’ve inherited this habit from their mum or dad.
Dressing for comfort follows closely (31%), and an early bedtime takes third place (27%). Other tell-tale clues that you’re morphing into your folks include feeling guilty about weekend lie-ins (15%), failing to recognise new music in the charts (21%), switching to a more “soothing” radio station (14%), and rolling out the same old jokes (13%).
Women tend to notice these parent-like traits in themselves around 42, while men typically reach that point at 45.
It’s not just about bedtime routines and weather rants: the survey, commissioned by M&S Credit Card, reveals that 61% of Britons have found themselves buying identical items to those their parents once picked out—whether it’s classic furnishings or sensible accessories. Little wonder, then, that 94% believe certain behavioural patterns are passed down through generations.
| Rank | Behavior | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
Nearly six in ten people (58%) admit they’ve spotted their partner taking after Mum or Dad, with a staggering 95% convinced these parallels grow more obvious over time.
But instead of panicking about becoming your parents, most of us are taking it in our stride—over a quarter (27%) find the whole idea pretty entertaining.
On the plus side, stepping into your folks’ shoes can bring financial perks. One in five say regularly reviewing your finances is a dead giveaway, and 17% think using loyalty cards and reward vouchers is another surefire sign of a parental takeover.
Paul Stokes from M&S Credit Card believes this generational hand-me-down can be beneficial: “It’s clear that many of us end up turning into our parents, but that’s not such a bad thing—especially if we’re adopting their savvy money habits.
More and more shoppers are harnessing loyalty schemes to get the best bang for their buck, whether it’s splashing out on treats or stretching the weekly budget.”
It seems parenthood itself helps seal the deal, too. Some 87% of those surveyed believe you learn how to be a parent from your own mum and dad, while 78% say having children made them realise just how alike they truly are to their parents.
So, if you’ve started dozing off in front of the TV or can’t help but moan about the forecast, don’t be alarmed—you’re simply following the family script.