How Much Stuff Do You Actually Own?
In this day and age, we can’t seem to get very far without accumulating a large amount of possessions. From childhood toys to unwanted Christmas presents, it’s easy to see why we have so much stuff.
From the moment we open our wallets or purses, it costs us. But the costs are not only financial – space, cleaning and maintenance add additional time and energy fees to the items we buy.
Our addiction to retail therapy may give us a positive buzz while punching in our pin when buying a new pair of jeans, but unsurprisingly we’re becoming more and more buried in our possessions – causing our stress levels to rise. This has lead to 54% of Americans feeling overwhelmed by their clutter and 78% of people finding it all too complicated to deal with.
Before 1750 and the industrial revolution, a shirt would have cost $3,000 in today’s money. For this reason, belongings were passed down generation to generation, meaning people spent less and items lasted longer. However, in an age of abundance, the West continues to stockpile possessions, so much so that 25% of people with 2-car garages don’t have room to park their cars inside of them.
In a 2012 study by the University of California, Los Angeles, it was found the average family home had:
- 39 pairs of shoes
- 90 DVDs or videos
- 139 toys
- 212 CDs
- 438 books and magazines
That’s only counting the easily visible items, rooting through the clutter and piles of belongings increased the total to a mammoth 300,000. No wonder 9/10 houses have so many possessions that they need to keep household items in the garage.
After seeing only a few of the statistics on the matter, it looks like we might have a problem. For more on how much we’re all secretly hoarding, read the full infographic below.
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About Liz King
Liz King is a content writer at Enova International, Inc. with a Bachelors of Communication from Ohio University. She has a passion for budget-friendly interior design and free ways to have fun on the weekends.
