A tenner can be all it takes to change your life. According to research by Vodafone UK, 52% of the Brits say that on at least one occasion £10 made a real difference to them – with the Brummies and the Welsh topping the regions for the most life changing experiences from handing over the note.

The research among 1,500 people shows that the most popular way to spend a tenner is to buy lottery tickets. Also among the top ten life changing purchases are pregnancy testing kits, drinks for a future wife, mobile phone top ups, and inspiring books.

Nearly half of those who claimed that £10 changed their life said it gave them a treasured memory, 1 in 5 said it turned into a sound investment, for 1 in 6 it resulted in an unforgettable encounter while for 10% it opened up a brand new opportunity. The findings come as Vodafone UK offers a £10/month discount on their £35 and £40 mobile contracts when customers trade in for an 18 month contract.

The research also showed that the benefits of making a small investment aren’t just limited to selfish indulgence. A quarter of people surveyed say they have bought a small gift for someone else that has significantly improved the status of their relationship and 22% claim to have boosted a friendship with just the cost of a phone call. And when it comes to getting value for money an impressive 57% said they have had that ‘money well spent’ feeling in the last 6 months and over a third have felt this way in the last two weeks.

“We know our customers want to have the best phones at the right price and get great value from their network. That’s why from now until the end of April we are giving our customers even better value by offering a £10 discount on our most popular price plans,“ says Ian Shepherd, director of consumer at Vodafone UK. “Customers who sign up to a £35 or £40 price plan and trade in for the latest mobile will have an extra £180 in their pocket - perfect for investing in a nest egg for the future or making that special purchase that could change their life.”

Top ten popular ways to spend a life changing tenner:

1. Lottery ticket or scratch card

2. Bet on a horse

3. Life changing book

4. Pregnancy testing kit

5. Mobile top up

6. Buying a drink for their (unbeknown to them) future wife

7. Buying flowers for their wife/wife to be

8. A bargain find at a car boot sale or antique fair

9. First driving lesson

10. Making a donation to a animal shelter when they bought their first pet

How to spend it! - What Brits would do with £180 Right Here, Right Now

1. Short Break (popular with the girls)

2. Invest it (popular with men & the top choice in Manchester, London, Nottingham, Plymouth, and Norwich)

3. Item of furniture (Glaswegians are the most house-proud)

4. Item of clothing (People from Edinburgh are the biggest followers of fashion)

5. Posh meal (Norwich is the gourmet capital)

6. Massage/spa treatment (favoured by women, but 1/100 men agreed)

7. Theatre/Ballet tickets (Nottingham is the culture capital)

8. iPod/music equipment (top among the Glaswegians)

9. CDs/music (big in Southampton)

10. Makeover (Plymouth comes top)

11. Big night out (Geordies lead the party scene)

12. Throw party for loved ones (a priority for those in Nottingham)

13. Jewellery (top choice in Belfast)

14. Sporting event tickets (Brummies love the action)

15. Shoes (Belfast and Sheffield, with men twice as likely to blow their cash on shoes compared to women!)

Notes to editors

Tickbox survey conducted in March 2008. 1500 UK adults surveyed.

About Vodafone UK
Vodafone UK has 18.4 million customers and is part of the world’s largest mobile community offering a wide range of voice and data communications. The company is committed to providing mobile solutions that allow both consumer and business customers to make the most of now. Vodafone customers can now use Internet on your Mobile to view and navigate web pages and their favourite sites such as YouTube, eBay and the BBC. In addition, Vodafone connects customers across the globe with roaming agreements worldwide. It provides 3G roaming in 29 countries and offers great roaming value with Vodafone Passport.

Vodafone UK falls in the top 20 Best Big Companies to Work For in the Sunday Times Best Companies List, March 2008. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.co.uk.

Vodafone Group Media Relations: 01634 66 44 44

For all other enquiries, please call Vodafone UK Head Office on + 44 1635 33251