The Life Admin Report

Life admin can be easy to put off. From reviewing bills and subscriptions to writing a will or checkinglife insurance cover, important tasks can often slip down the to-do list when life is  busy.

Many of us know there are life admin tasks we keep putting off. The rise of “admin nights” shows more people are now setting time aside to get through them, with searches for the term up by 3,076% in the past year.

To find out how much unfinished life admin is really costing people, MoneySuperMarket surveyed 2,000 UK adults about the tasks they delay most, why they avoid them, and the impact procrastination can have on their finances.

The results reveal that nearly two in five UK adults (39%) say putting off life admin has cost them money, whether through a missed deal, a late fee or staying on a worse rate for longer than planned.

Our findings also show that the tasks people leave longest tend to be the ones linked to their finances, protection and family planning - often the very things that become most important when life changes.

Key Findings

Our research found that:

• Nearly two in five UK adults (39%) say delaying life admin has cost them money

• Nearly half of adults (45%) have at least one unfinished financial life admin task, while almost one in four (23%) have three or more

• Writing a will creates the biggest life admin backlog, with two in five (42%) of UK adults putting it off for 11.4 weeks on average

• Almost one in four adults (24%) have missed out on a better deal, rate or offer because of delayed financial or life admin

• 29 to 44-year-olds delay life admin tasks for the longest, putting them off for 5.3 weeks on average

• Nearly one in four (23%) delay life admin because they feel overwhelmed, making it the most common reason for putting tasks off

• Nearly one in four  full-time workers (24%) have used work time to catch up on life admin, while one in six have used annual leave to do so

• Almost two-thirds (64%) say completing life admin tasks makes them feel more in control, and a similar proportion (63%) agree small tasks can have a big financial impact if ignored

The life admin tasks creating the biggest backlog

Life admin covers everything from everyday household tasks to bigger financial decisions. Our research found that the tasks delayed by the largest number of people aren’t always the tasks left unresolved for the longest.

Everyday jobs, such as household chores and general admin, are delayed by the highest number of people. But financial protection tasks, such as writing a will, arranging life insurance or updating cover after a major life change, tend to be left unresolved for longer. Nearly half of UK adults (45%) say they have at least one outstanding financial life admin task.

To understand which tasks are creating the biggest backlog, we created a Life Admin Delay Score. This combines the percentage of people who delay each task with the average number of weeks they put it off for.

Across all tasks, UK adults put off life admin by around 4.5 weeks on average. The biggest backlogs tend to come from tasks that many people delay, and keep delaying for a long time.

Writing a will has the highest Life Admin Delay Score. While two in five (42%) UK adults say they put it off, those who do delay it leave it for 11.4 weeks on average, or nearly three months. It's also the task most likely to be delayed for more than six months, with one in six (17%) of UK adults - over 8.9 million people - saying they leave it that long.

We also spoke to Jacob Robinson, Partner & Head of Private Client at Taylor Rose, about why wills get put off:

“Writing a will is one of those life admin tasks that people often delay because it feels complex, time-consuming or something that can wait until later in life. In reality, the process is usually far more straightforward than people expect, particularly with the right guidance in place to walk you through your options and ensure everything reflects your wishes. The findings in this report really highlight that gap between perception and reality.

Without a valid will, your estate is distributed according to strict legal rules, rather than your personal wishes, which can lead to unintended outcomes and added complications for those you leave behind. This is especially important for modern families, where arrangements are often more complex or where unmarried partners may not automatically be protected.

Putting a will in place is ultimately about taking control - it allows you to clearly set out your intentions, protect your loved ones, and make the process as straightforward as possible for your family in future.”

Why writing a will matters

Fewer than half of UK adults (40%) say they currently have a will in place, while one in six (42%) say they put off writing one.

Kara Gammell
Personal Finance & Insurance Expert

Our expert says

"Writing a will can feel like a big task, but it's one of the clearest ways to make sure your wishes are understood. It helps set out what should happen to your money, property and possessions, and who you'd like them to go to.

"Having a will in place can also make things simpler for loved ones at an already difficult time. Like life insurance, it's part of making sure your financial protection keeps up with your circumstances, especially after major life changes such as buying a home, getting married or having children."

Managing or switching services, such as subscriptions, energy or broadband, ranks second. Three in five (60%) UK adults put it off, for 6.4 weeks on average. This suggests that everyday financial admin can also build up, especially when it involves reviewing deals, rates or regular payments.

Life insurance-related admin also ranks highly. Updating life insurance or a will after a major life change has the third-highest delay score, while applying for life insurance ranks fifth. This suggests that financial protection tasks can be easy to postpone, even when they may become more important after changes such as having a child, moving home, changing income or getting married.

By comparison, general life admin tasks (everyday jobs like paperwork, returns and appointment booking) are delayed by around two-thirds (65%) of UK adults, but are put off for three weeks on average. Household chores are delayed by two-thirds (66%) of UK adults, but for just 1.9 weeks on average, which means they fall outside the top 10 when both frequency and delay length are considered.

The pattern is particularly clear among adults in their 30s and 40s. Those aged 35 to 44 are among the most likely to delay updating life insurance or a will after a major life change, with nearly three in five (57%) putting it off. This may reflect the fact that this age group is also more likely to be experiencing major milestones, such as buying a home, getting married, having children or changes in income.

They also delay applying for life insurance and updating cover after a change for 7.9 weeks on average. Meanwhile, those aged 45 to 54 put off writing a will for 14.4 weeks on average.

These can be life stages when financial planning and protection become more important, as people may be more likely to have dependents, mortgages or changing family circumstances.

Younger adults are carrying the biggest backlog

Younger adults are more likely to have outstanding financial life admin tasks. Almost two-thirds (65%) of 25 to 34-year-olds have at least one outstanding financial task, compared with just over one in four (28%) of over-55s.

Across all tasks, 29 to 44-year-olds delay life admin tasks for the longest, putting them off for 5.3 weeks on average, followed by 18 to 28-year-olds at 4.8 weeks, while 60 to 78-year-olds leave them for the shortest time at 3.3 weeks.

The encouraging part is that the same younger group is the most open to a nudge. Over half of 18 to 28-year-olds (57%) say clearer guidance would make them more likely to act, against more than a third (36%) of 60 to 78-year-olds. 

Parents and families are more likely to feel the pressure of unfinished admin

Admin is harder to stay on top of when family life is busy. Three in five (61%) couples with children under 18 have at least one outstanding financial task, and two-thirds (66%) say unfinished admin leaves them feeling stressed.

The cost shows up here as almost one in three (30%) of couples with children under 18 say they've missed out on a better deal because of delayed admin.

It's also where protection matters most, and where it waits longest. Single parents put off writing a will for 17 weeks on average, and couples with young children for 11.7 weeks. For anyone with dependants, setting aside time to review a will or life insurance cover can help make sure financial protection keeps up with family circumstances.

The cost of putting off life admin

Delaying life admin can have a financial impact. Nearly two in five (39%) say putting off admin has cost them money, and around three in five (63%) agree small tasks can have a big financial impact if left incomplete. This could mean missing a renewal, paying a late fee, staying on a more expensive deal for longer than needed, or not having the right financial protection in place when your circumstances change. 

Our research found:

• Almost one in four (24%) have missed out on a better deal, rate or offer because of delayed admin

• Almost one in five (19%) have paid a late fee or penalty

• Around one in six (17%) say they've lost money directly

• One in 10 (10%) have left a task undone for more than a year

We spoke to Leon Ward, CEO of Money Ready, about how small delays can add up:

"These tasks rarely feel like big financial decisions in the moment, but the cost of delay stacks up. Our Cost of Not Knowing research found the average UK adult loses around £641 a year by putting off money decisions that feel confusing or overwhelming - and that's before overpaying on things like phone contracts and subscriptions. People often spend longer worrying about these jobs than it takes to do them."

For people who are self-employed, freelance or have a side income, tax admin is one area where small delays can quickly become more stressful. We asked Arjun Kumar, co-founder ofTaxd, what day-to-day tax admin really involves:

"Managing taxes isn’t actually a single, monumental task - it's lots of small ones that pile up. Done manually, bookkeeping and expenses can eat two to four hours a week, and with Making Tax Digital now in force for the self-employed, there's quarterly reporting on top. 

“But the real drain is the mental load. UK tax rules are confusing, so people lose hours second-guessing themselves. Putting it off is expensive too - miss the Self Assessment deadline and there's an automatic £100 fine, then daily penalties, plus interest. File in a panic and you tend to overpay, because you've not recorded your expenses properly. Tackle it early and it becomes routine rather than a source of dread."

Life admin is eating into work hours and annual leave

Unfinished admin doesn't stay confined to evenings and weekends. Nearly a quarter of full-time workers (24%) say they've used work time to catch up on admin, and more than one in six (17%) have used a day or more of annual leave to do it.

It weighs on them, too, with 58% of full-time workers feeling stressed thinking about unfinished tasks. More than half (57%) say a dedicated day for life admin would help.

How MoneySuperMarket helps employees tackle life admin

At MoneySuperMarket, employees are encouraged to spend time on their financial wellbeing through the annual Big MONY Workshop.

The initiative gives colleagues a dedicated day to focus on the tasks that matter most to them, whether that's speaking to a financial adviser, attending expert-led workshops, reviewing their finances or simply ticking off important jobs they've been putting off.

Employees can choose from a range of webinars, one-to-one support sessions and practical resources, with the flexibility to "design their day" around their own circumstances and priorities.

For a lot of people, then, unfinished admin isn't just a personal to-do list. It quietly takes up time, headspace and energy during the working week.

Why we put off life admin

Life admin is often seen as a time issue, but our research suggests the biggest barriers are emotional and practical. For many people, admin can feel overwhelming, stressful or difficult to start, especially when it involves money, financial products or important decisions.

Almost one in four UK adults (23%) say they delay life admin because they feel overwhelmed by the task, while one in five (22%) forget to do it. A further one in five (21%) find it stressful or anxiety-inducing.

Not knowing where to start is also a common barrier. Around one in seven UK adults (15%) say they put off life admin because they don’t know where to begin. Scaled across the UK adult population, that’s equivalent to around eight million people who may be delaying important tasks simply because the first step isn’t clear.

This suggests life admin is not only a time issue. For some people, it can feel too big, too confusing or difficult to start, especially when it involves money or important decisions.

Unfinished tasks can also make day-to-day life feel harder to manage. More than half of UK adults (55%) say they feel stressed when they think about unfinished life admin tasks, while around three in five (62%) say delaying tasks makes them feel disorganised.

But the research also shows the positive impact of taking action. Almost two-thirds (64%) say completing life admin tasks makes them feel more in control. Even small steps - reviewing a direct debit, setting a reminder to check your insurance cover, or updating your details - can help you feel more organised and prepared.

Why life admin can feel harder to start than it is

One reason it's so easy to delay is that people often aren't sure how long a task will take, or what they'll need to do once they start. UK adults estimate a typical life admin task takes 38 minutes - and where we've compared that with experts, people tend to expect tasks to take longer than they actually do.

The uncertainty is highest around financial protection and long-term planning. More than a third of UK adults (37%) say they don't know how long it takes to write a will, and a third (35%) don't know how long to allow for reviewing life insurance cover, and a further third (33%) aren't sure about applying for life insurance.

For everyday admin, the difference between what people expect and what experts say is clear. While around one in six (17%) of UK adults say they don't know how long managing or switching services takes, those who do estimate it put it at 44 minutes on average - but time management and productivity coach Clare Evans says it can take around 30 minutes.:

“Check each time your subscription or contract ends that you’re on the best deal or still using the services. Using the online chat function can help you save time, and many subscriptions or contracts can now be changed online or through the provider’s app.”

She also recommends keeping life admin tools simple. For example, a basic checklist of banks, utility providers and subscriptions can make it quicker to update details or review regular payments when you need to.

When the starting point is unclear, it can be easier to put the task off. Breaking bigger jobs into smaller steps, such as checking what information you need, setting a reminder or reviewing one policy at a time, can make life admin feel more manageable.

Expert tips to stop putting life admin off

A few small changes can make admin feel a lot more manageable. We asked Clare Evans, time management and productivity coach, for her advice on some of the everyday jobs we delay.

1. Start with a brain dump

Write down every task that's been sitting on your list. Getting it out of your head and onto paper makes it easier to see what's actually there - and to prioritise.

2. Pick one thing to start with

Rather than tackling everything, choose one job that feels useful and doable - reviewing a direct debit, checking a renewal date, or finding one important document.

3. Block out a bit of time

Putting it in the calendar makes it easier to commit to. Pick a moment when you won't be distracted, and give yourself a clear start and finish.

4. Break the big jobs down

Some tasks feel daunting because they involve several decisions. Reviewing life insurance, for example, can start with simply checking what cover you already have, then asking whether your circumstances have changed, then comparing your options.

5. Lean on reminders

Some jobs only need looking at once or twice a year. A calendar nudge for policy renewals, subscription checks or savings reviews can stop them drifting.

Life admin may never be the most exciting way to spend half an hour. But it can leave you feeling more organised, more prepared and more in control - which, for most of us, is worth a lot.

Quick tasks you can start today

You don't have to do everything at once. Starting with one small job tends to make the rest feel lighter. A few you could pick from:

1. Check whether your life insurance cover still fits your life

2. Compare life insurance options

3. Have a quick look through your direct debits and subscriptions

4. See whether your savings account still offers a competitive rate

5. Update your details with your bank or utility providers

6. Organise your important documents - insurance details, passwords, financial paperwork

7. Glance over your monthly budget or spending

8. Book or rebook an appointment you've been meaning to

9. Make a start on a will checklist

10. Set a reminder to review your financial products once or twice a year

Methodology

MoneySuperMarket surveyed 2,000 nationally representative UK adults to understand which life admin tasks people delay most, why they put them off, and the financial and emotional impact of unfinished admin. The survey was conducted between April and May 2026.

To identify the tasks creating the biggest backlog, we created a Life Admin Delay Score. This was calculated by combining the percentage of UK adults who delay each task with the average number of weeks they delay it for. This gives each task a combined score based on both how common the delay is and how long people put it off for.

Alongside the survey, MoneySuperMarket consulted experts in personal finance, tax, legal and organisation-related tasks to understand how long selected life admin tasks can take and how people can make them easier to manage.