'Choice drains my energy'

Richard Butt
7/ 3/2008

MODERN life is all about choice. It dominates everything. We’re no longer citizens of the country or subjects of the monarch but "consumers" these days.

Choice is good, we’re told, because not only does it enhance our own life but demanding choices is good for capitalism.

It means the economy responds better to what people actually want and becomes more efficient. So everyone will be better off. Do you know what? I’m sick of choice.

What they don’t bang on about when talking about choice is the amount of time decision-making robs from you – and the increased level of anxiety it brings.

I’m particularly bad at choosing toothpaste and coffee. I stand in the aisles devoted to them at the supermarket for ages. If I’m not umming, I’m ahhing. There’s just too much there and I’m bamboozled by all those basically-the-same products, not knowing what to do. Before I know where I am, I’m five minutes closer to death. My life would be enhanced if there was only one of each to buy.

Utility companies are a special problem.

Every time there is an increase in gas or electricity prices, that bloke Martin Lewis goes on the telly (for some reason, he’s the only financial guru non-financial journalists choose to talk to) and says we should switch suppliers and get the best deal. Yes, we should. I even did it once. But all that choice makes it so hard. You have to find your old bills and tell some internet site how much they were and what sort of house you live in. And then, as if by magic, the site works out which company you should switch to.

About six weeks later, all the utility companies will have changed their prices again and Martin Lewis will be back on the telly saying it’s time to switch. Oh, for Norweb or nothing and British Gas or nothing!

In the old days you were spared the stress of that choice. OK, bills were more expensive but at least there was none of that you’re-not-getting-value-for-money-shame-on-you anxiety that you get now.

Meanwhile, you cannot watch television for more than 12 minutes before some other net company is going on about how you should compare all these other companies for insurance of various kinds.

I’d rather spend time snoozing or thinking of kittens or picking my nose. The political parties reckon that choice will improve schools and hospitals.

I just don’t want the hassle of deciding. All I want is good local schools and a good local hospital.

I don’t want to have to go to

comparehospitals.co.uk the next time I sever my left foot in an axe-wielding accident to see which A&E gets four or more stars in stanching blood flow.

You can also get lured into thinking that this choice thing is a good idea. Sure, you can go to a fantastic European resort on El Cheapo Airlines (or actually a poxy airport 120km away, if you read the small print) for 28p plus taxes. But you don’t get a seat.

That’s £50 extra. And going back is £465 extra. But you can only book the 28p price if you go online at 2.39am on a Tuesday eight weeks earlier. And your middle name must be Alan. It’s just too frustrating.

I went to London on the train at the weekend.

I booked to go with the Love of My Life before Christmas.

It cost £65 return each. I reckoned early booking = cheaper.

But no. An employee at the railway station told LoML that if we’d booked later still, but still a month before we travelled, it would have been £13.50 each.

How are you supposed to know that?

Life is not improved by choice at all. We still end up doing jobs we’d rather not to buy stuff we don’t really need – with extra stress, guilt and anxiety thrown in.

Richard Butt edits Channel M’s early evening news – every weeknight from 5pm