Pampered pooches are just so 2006

Published on Wednesday 10 June 2009 22:02

FADS such as feng shui, designer bottled water and colonic irrigation are being rejected as people are hit by the recession, according to a new survey.

A poll of 1,000 adults by the Ask Jeeves search engine looked at trends popular three years ago compared with now.

In 2006, internet users tended to search for information on alternative health therapies, such as acupuncture.

Now they are more likely to be inquiring about feeding a family and cheaper holidays, said website spokeswoman Nadia Kelly.

She suggested the survey findings heralded "the death of pretentiousness" and that not everyone will be sad to see the end of items considered frivolous, such as tiny football shirts for miniature dogs owned by celebrities including Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

She added: "Since 2006, the fashion has gone from fads to function. What people want to know now is how to cook more cheaply and dress for less."

Comedian Phil Nichol told The Scotsman: "The good news is, tacky knick-knack shops will go out of business, because people will no longer be spending money on crap they don't need, like matching Laurel and Hardy salt and pepper shakers.

The survey found 90 per cent of people saw designer bottled water as a waste of money in modern Britain.