SHOCKING STATS ABOUT STUFF

Have you ever questioned how you accumulated so many belongings? Here are some surprising statistics that might astonish you and inspire a journey toward a more organized home and a smaller shopping list, ultimately saving you money!

Is this you?

Shocking stats:

1. We waste half the food in our fridge

2. We spend on average $2,800 a year on clothes and accessories

3. Women spend 400 hours a year shopping

4. The average size of the home has tripled in the last 50 years, which means more rooms to fill than ever before

5. 1/10 people rent storage units to store the overflow of items from their homes

6. There are 3,000 self-storage units in Canada

7. We use only 20% of our clothes

8. The average home has 300,000 items - most rarely used

9. Toys have increased by 500% in the last 50 years, yet kids play with only a handful

10. Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills or oceans

11. 1% of gifts received at Christmas are actually used 6 months after receiving them

12. 4% of gifts received are immediately thrown away

13. 46% of shoppers still owe from the previous Christmas shopping spree

14. $16 billion is wasted in unwanted gifts each year

15. A cluttered home causes stress. Studies have shown that living in a cluttered environment can lead to higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. 

16. A 2018 study found that the average product, including electronics, breaks after 2.6 years

17. The average man owns between 10-12 pairs of shoes and the average woman owns between 19-27 pairs of shoes

18. 85 per cent of clothing in North America isn't even making it into a bin where it may get a second life, and is instead going directly in a landfill, according to SMART, a group that represents for-profit companies in the recycled textiles industry

19. The average woman owns around 11 handbags

20. A significant majority of Canadians, 91%, report that clutter negatively affects their lives, according to a study by the Professional Organizers of Canada. Furthermore, 83% of Canadians describe themselves as extremely disorganized.

Don't know where to start? Call Downsizing Diva Durham 647-948-3482