Flagstone’s latest national survey has found that young adults are spending more than any other age group on services that save time — from cleaners and childcare to grocery deliveries — as they try to rebalance their work and wellbeing.
The research suggests 25–34-year-olds are twice as likely as older adults to spend money if it means saving time. On average, they save 13 hours and 18 minutes per week through outsourcing — almost two hours more than the national average of 11 hours and 44 minutes.
This group is also showing signs of stress. Data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that daily leisure time among 25–34-year-olds has fallen by nearly 50 minutes over the past four years. Over the same period, stress-related absences in this age bracket have increased, reinforcing what many have described as a growing “time debt”.
According to Flagstone, 21% of respondents in this age group said they use their reclaimed time primarily to relax or sleep, 17% to spend time with family and friends, and 15% to pursue hobbies.
Among the most time-intensive weekly activities, childcare topped the list — averaging two hours and 14 minutes each week. Those who used childcare services saved nearly two hours on average. Travelling was next, with young adults spending over two hours weekly but saving more than an hour by choosing express trains or taxis.
Cooking and cleaning also ranked high. Around 63% of 25–34-year-olds said they use meal prep services, gaining back about an hour each week. Those outsourcing cleaning tasks save around one hour and 24 minutes on average.
Dr Daniel Glazer, Clinical Psychologist and Co-Founder of UK Therapy Rooms, said that “a lack of time can be one of the most significant sources of stress someone experiences. Reclaiming even brief intervals can be deeply restorative, ease the strain of constant multitasking, and help reinforce emotional resilience.”
He added that the trend is especially pronounced among younger adults who are “building careers, managing social lives, and often starting families. Being able to juggle and manage these priorities can help justify the additional cost of time-saving services.”
John Martin, Chief Product Officer at Flagstone, said the findings reflect a wider redefinition of what financial wellbeing means for younger consumers. “Time is precious — and young adults are increasingly happy to spend money to protect it,” he said. “But while it’s natural to want more time back, it’s important to balance these choices with long-term financial planning. Time is valuable, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of future financial security.”
Flagstone’s study suggests that for a generation under pressure, the ability to “buy back balance” is becoming a core component of financial freedom.
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