Brits 'lose friends' as they get older

• August 22, 2007
  
  
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  People who say that life is more fun when you're young may have a point, if the latest research is to be believed.
  
  A new study claims that the average Brit loses one friend every ten months as they get older.
  
  A 16-year-old has an average of 34 friends, research from telecoms firm Dot Mobile reveals, but this figure dwindles to a lonely 13 by the time they reach 40.
  
  Furthermore, the making and keeping of friends is an expensive business as we spend an average of ?37.20 per friend per year taking into account socialising, birthday presents, travel and phone bills.
  
  This figure adds up to a whopping ?55,000 over a year, with students likely to spend the most, said Dot Mobile, which surveyed 1,000 adults aged 18 to 60 years old.
  
  "Young Brits are a sociable bunch so it makes sense we're at our most popular before we're 25," the Scotsman quoted Naomi Jeanes, marketing manager for Dot Mobile, as saying.
  
  "As our research shows, friendship can be an expensive business too and, ironically, students spend the most on it.
  
  "However, the rate at which we shake off our friends between 25 and 40 is quite shocking, but for us Brits, it's clearly about quality, not quantity."
  
  Whether you're looking for mates or dates, search here!
  
  
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