The most common mishaps of modern life include sending a text to the wrong person and mistaking a stranger for someone you know – only after you have greeted them. A poll of 2,000 adults found washing and shrinking your clothes, forgetting about a meal which was cooking and ruining it, and trying to unlock someone else’s car as other innocent mistakes.
Prepping a meal for work but then leaving it at home and forgetting to cancel unwanted subscriptions you never use also ranked among the top mishaps. Unfortunately, 16 per cent have forgotten about plans and failed to turn up at an event, while 11 per cent have dropped their book while reading in the bath.
Ursula Gibbs, director at Compare the Market, who are celebrating the launch of its new mishap-prone character Carl the Wombat, said: “These misfortunes are a part of life, and we can all make them. “Whether it’s getting the wrong currency for a holiday or booking a train for the wrong time, many of us can relate.
“Our findings show it can happen to anyone and everyone can relate to making a mishap, just like our loveable character Carl”.
The research also found the typical adult suffers from 84 mishaps a year – more than once a week. And 31 per cent admitted to doing the same thing on more than one occasion.
In your own home (17 per cent), at work (17 per cent) and in the supermarket (nine per cent) are the most common places where mishaps happen. The pub (seven per cent) and on holiday (seven per cent) also ranked among the top five.
Over two-fifths (45 per cent) of people have laughed about their mishap. 21 per cent felt they have learnt something from a mishap. It also emerged 87 per cent think mistakes and mishaps are simply an inevitable part of life – no matter how hard we try to avoid them.
And 45 per cent admitted they now laugh about previous mishaps, while the strongest emotion people feel when they see others make a mishap is empathy (22 per cent).
More than six in 10 (63 per cent) of those polled, commissioned by Compare the Market, even feel the innocent mishaps we suffer should be celebrated as they’re a part of what makes us human.
Out of those who usually try to speak to someone about their mishap, over half (52%) speak to their partner, 44% speak to their mum or relatives, and 38% go to their friends.
Ursula Gibbs, director at Compare the Market added: “No-one is able to avoid making a mistake or two, as it’s a part of life.
“But it’s great to see so many people feel they have learned from their experience and been able to laugh about it afterwards.
“Our new character Carl the Wombat is no stranger to a mishap with his well-intentioned decisions not quite working out for him.
But as our results show, innocent mishaps are an inevitable and positive part of life and learning.”
TOP 'WOMBATTING' MISHAPS BRITS HAVE ENDURED
1. Sent a text to the wrong person
2. Mistook a stranger for someone you knew and greeted them
3. Got on the wrong train or bus
4. Washed clothes and accidentally shrunk them
5. Washed clothes and accidentally turned them a different colour
6. Forgot about a meal that you were cooking and it spoiled
7. Prepped a meal for work but forgot to take it in
8. Put a laundry load on for a wash and forgot to add detergent
9. Had your phone go off in a place it should have been silent e.g. at the cinema
10. Tried to unlock your car and realised after a while it was someone else’s
11. Forgot to cancel those subscriptions that you never use
12. Forgot about plans and didn’t turn up to an event
13. Bought a piece of furniture for the house but didn’t check the dimensions and it was a lot smaller or larger than realised
14. Accidentally sat on the TV remote control and missed a key moment on live TV (e.g. a goal)
15. Let an insurance policy automatically renew without realising
16. Forgot to connect your headphones and realising everyone can hear your music
17. Put the wrong destination in the sat nav
18. Bought the wrong ingredients for a meal and had to make a bodge job dinner
19. Dropped your book in the bath while reading
20. Ordered the wrong thing in a restaurant by accident
