Brits reveal the new signs you've got your life under control, from having solar panels to installing smart meters

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• 54% of Brits say generating their own energy would help them feel more in control of their bills, with 45% believing it would make them less reliant on the grid

• Eco upgrades are helping homeowners feel empowered, with 39% seeing features like solar panels as a sign someone has their life together and 32% saying having solar panels and a smart meter signals ‘life sorted’

• 35% say generating their own electricity through solar panels would help them feel truly in control and 31% believing it would make them more financially independent

 Whether it's remembering bin day, finally tackling the clothes pile or knowing exactly which cupboard the spare batteries are in, Brits have plenty of ideas about what it means to have their life together.

Research by British Gas reveals that, for most of us, having your life sorted still comes down to the little things. Making regular savings (52%)^[1] tops the list, followed by enjoying your own company (43%), being able to admit when you're wrong (42%) and saying no without feeling guilty (37%). Knowing when bin day is (35%), making the bed every day (34%) and having a strong friendship group (33%) also feature among the nation's top markers of having life together.

Yet alongside these everyday markers, a new kind of ‘sorted’ is emerging. Nearly four in 10 (39%) of Brits now see eco-friendly home features such as solar panels, heat pumps and rainwater collection systems as a sign someone has their life together. And for nearly a third (32%), having solar panels and a smart meter is one of the clearest signs of all.

The appeal is clear. Almost half (46%) say having an energy-efficient home that costs less to run would make them feel more in control, while 39% want greater visibility over their energy usage. And for more than a quarter (27%), knowing exactly how much energy their home uses each month is now a sign that someone has their life sorted.

And when it comes to energy, generating your own is proving particularly appealing. More than half (54%) say it would make them feel more in control of their energy bills, while 45% say it would make them less reliant on the grid and nearly four in ten (39%) say they love the idea of being more self-sufficient. Meanwhile, 35% believe generating their own electricity through solar panels would help them feel truly in control.

That desire for control extends beyond energy, with 84% of Brits saying they wish they felt more in control of their lives and 30% admitting they don't know where to start. For many, making their home work harder could be one way to make everyday life feel a little more manageable.

Joe McHugh, Electrician at British Gas comments on the research, saying: “People are rethinking what it means to have their life together, and increasingly it comes down to control - control over your home, your bills and your future. Investing in technologies like solar panels has become one of the clearest signs of that, because it turns your home from something that costs you money every month into something that's actively working for you.”

And perhaps the ultimate sign of having your life together is not needing to rely on anyone else. Almost a third (31%) say generating their own energy would make them feel more financially independent, suggesting that self-sufficiency is becoming an increasingly important part of feeling ‘sorted’.

For households looking to take greater control of their energy use, British Gas offers a range of energy solutions, including solar panels and smart energy technology, designed to help customers generate more of their own electricity and better understand how their home uses energy. To find out more from British Gas on becoming energy independent, visit Smart Energy Tariffs and Greener Home Solutions - British Gas.

THE TOP SIGNS YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE…

1. You make regular savings - 52%

2. You enjoy your own company - 43%

3. You can admit when you’re wrong - 42%

4. You say no without feeling guilty - 37%

5. You’re not paying for subscriptions you don’t use - 36%

6. You know when bin day is - 35%

7. You make your bed every day - 34%

8. You have a strong friendship group - 33%

9. You have solar panels and a smart meter – 32%

10. You work the hours you choose - 30%

11. You recycle everything - 30%

12. You put clothes away, rather than throw them on a chair - 30%

13. Your kitchen cupboards are in order - 28%

14. You drink two litres of water a day - 28%

15. You know how much energy your home uses each month - 27%

16. You have spare batteries and know where they are - 25%

17. You unpack immediately after a trip - 23%

18. You book the dentist before anything hurts - 22%

19. You always wash up after a dinner party - 21%

20. Your car doesn’t have empty wrappers on the floor - 21%