Do we really have 300,000 items in our homes?

You’ve probably heard that number being floated around: the average household contains 300,000 items. But does it really? It turns out I have a bit of inside information, as well as some thoughts, so here we go!

That number actually comes from a NAPO colleague of mine, Regina Lark, who was quoted in the LA Times in 2014 saying that the average house contains 300,000 items. I attended one of her webinars last month, where she explained that when asked, she said that she got the number from the UCLA’s 2012 book Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century – which I happened to be reading at the time! And then, try as she might, she was never able to find that reference, although she is convinced that she did read that number somewhere and did not make it up. I also could have sworn that it was in that book, but when I looked for it, I couldn’t find that figure either. However, her quote has since taken on a life of its own and is, to this day, being repeated everywhere as truth, probably because the LA Times is an important publication.

So, the book was published after UCLA conducted a great anthropological study with 32 American families in 2012, and they talk a lot about their methodology. They did count objects, but it was more of an estimate: they made educated guesses about certain groups of items, and they only ever counted items in plain sight – meaning that anything that would have been in a drawer, in a cabinet, or behind something visible was not counted. Here are some figures from that study, along with a quote that will not surprise you: “Middle-class America has the most possessions per family in history.” Households surveyed had an average of 438 books and magazines, 139 toys, and 39 pairs of shoes per family (again, these are only visible items). In home offices, the lowest number of plainly visible non-paper objects was 21, and the most was 2,337. In the garage, it ranged from 50 to 650. Having more items on one’s refrigerator (magnets, papers, etc.) was correlated with having more objects in the home. But there is no total anywhere in sight!

Now, here’s where my opinion comes into play. Let’s be generous by rounding up and saying that a person lives for 30,000 days. From those days, we wouldn’t really count childhood, so there’s maybe 25,000 days left? Let’s say the average household has two adults, and they are acquiring objects not just for themselves, but also for their 2.5 kids. Okay. So with my rough mathematical model here, those adults would have to acquire (while never discarding!) about 12 items each day in order to have 300,000 by the end of their life, right? So it would have to be an even faster rate of acquisition in order to have that many items while their kids are still living with them, as in the UCLA study. I’m not counting perishable items like groceries or cleaning products in this tally, and I wouldn’t be counting every last piece of paper either, since the UCLA anthropologists didn’t.

Speaking for my household, we are not acquiring items at nearly that rate. Sure, there are isolated times when I will buy a lot at once. For example, in one shopping spree, I could buy several outfits for my kids to go back to school as they grow, along with school supplies. But on an average day, I am not buying anything. And regardless of how much I buy, I do get rid of some items along the way (like the kids’ clothes that have been outgrown, plus the school supplies that get used up).

All this to say that while I do not have any idea how many items are in my household, and while I’m sure the number would seem very large if I were to learn it, I don’t think it’s anywhere close to 300,000!

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Hi there! I’m Amélie, a professional home organizer in San Antonio, Texas. I help people like you declutter their home, organize their belongings, and simplify their life. I love cleaning out a closet and removing a carload of donations from a home! My goal is to help you create a functional space that will make your life easier and more peaceful.

Interested? Check out my personalized services or book your complimentary consultation!

Owning well - Saving money by investing in quality

In a society often driven by instant gratification and disposability, not to mention the planned obsolescence of electronics, the concept of “owning well” stands as a refreshing alternative. At its core, owning well is about making thoughtful purchasing decisions, opting for high-quality items that are built to last, and taking proper care of them throughout their lifespan. In essence, buy the best you can afford and care for it.  By embracing this mindset, not only can we elevate our everyday experience, but we can also save money in the long run.

Choosing quality over quantity

In a consumer-driven society, it’s easy to fall into the trap of buying cheap and disposable products. (To be fair, that can be a fine thing if we indeed intend to own the item only for a short while or want to try it out before committing, though in that case, buying it secondhand or borrowing it would be preferable.) However, these “bargain” purchases can end up costing us more over time when we have to replace them.

Owning well begins with breaking free from the cycle of mindless consumption and shifting our focus toward investing in quality. When purchasing an item, whether it’s clothing, electronics, or household goods, aim to buy the best version that your budget allows. Look for well-constructed products made from durable materials that are less likely to wear out or break. Though the initial cost may be higher, the longevity and performance of a well-made item will ultimately outweigh the cost of frequently replacing cheaper alternatives – assuming the cheap item even works as intended in the first place!

This photo was taken by Alejo Reinoso for Unsplash.

When my then-fiancé (now-husband) and I moved in together, we had a cheap stand-mixer that we had bought for $30. Not only did it not actually function as a stand mixer (the paddle or whisk was stationary and therefore could never reach the entire bowl), but it died after just a year or two. We then bought a Kitchen Aid stand mixer. Yes, it was almost ten times the price, but this workhorse performs beautifully and, after almost 15 years, it is still just as good as the day we bought it! Plus, it looks fantastic on our kitchen counter and brings me joy whenever I look at it.

Another example? I’ve noticed that the toys from the dollar store are always the first to break – then there might be tears and frustration from the kids, and really, it would have been better to either not buy anything, or to spend more and buy something of higher quality.

The economics of owning well

While owning well may require a larger upfront investment, it promises significant financial benefits in the long term. Consider, for instance, the cost of constantly replacing low-quality goods versus owning a few well-crafted items that withstand the test of time. You could buy dozens of cheap, trendy T-shirts that fall apart after a few washes, or a few quality T-shirts in a classic style that wear well and that you will own for years. Plus, from an organizing standpoint, I can tell you that running your home will be much more efficient without all that extra stuff in the way.

By opting for quality, we reduce the need for frequent replacements, eliminating the ongoing expenditure on subpar products. The cost per use of each item decreases with a long-lasting quality item! And overall, we consume less.

The art of proper care

Owning well goes beyond making wise purchases; it also involves nurturing and caring for our possessions. Taking the time to maintain and repair our belongings ensures their longevity and maximizes their value, even making them potential assets for resale or reuse. In the case of those t-shirts, separating colors, washing in cool water on delicate, and air-drying will help them last longer; they could even be in good enough condition that you might resell them or at least donate them instead of recycling or trashing them, extending their life cycle that much further.

Each item requires its own specific care routine, whether it’s cleaning delicate fabrics, servicing mechanical goods, or avoiding exposure to harsh elements. By understanding and following the manufacturer’s guidelines, we can prolong the lifespan of our possessions and derive maximum utility from them. I’m thinking about a pair of leather shoes that not only will last longer than synthetic leather, but will also last longer if the leather is properly moisturized and protected and if the shoes are resoled, which would not be effective on a pair of cheap shoes.

This photo was taken by Ervan M. Wirawan for Unsplash

Owning well: a holistic lifestyle

In a society characterized by constant trends and rapid obsolescence, owning well can grant us a sense of stability, control, and appreciation for the things we possess. From well-made clothing that withstands changing fashion fads to long-lasting tools that facilitate our passions, owning well redefines our relationship with our belongings and the value we get from them.

Embracing the concept of owning well extends beyond material possessions. It fosters a mindset of intentionality and aligns with conscious consumption. When we actively choose to buy quality items and care for them properly, we engage in a lifestyle that values durability, craftsmanship, and long-term satisfaction. Owning well not only saves us money, but also allows us to embrace a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Conclusion

Owning well is a mindset that challenges us to break free from throwaway culture. By investing in quality items and nurturing them throughout their lifetime, we not only enrich our daily lives, but also save money in the process. This paradigm shift toward thoughtful consumption allows us to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle while reaping the rewards of durability, functionality, and long-term satisfaction.

So, let us make a conscious choice to own well, cherish our possessions, and redefine our relationship with the material world. It takes practice! By doing so, we can find fulfillment in having fewer, but higher-quality, items that accompany us throughout our life. Invest in quality, care with intention, and savor the rewards of owning well!

The ongoing cost of ownership

Sometimes, people are reluctant to get rid of items they own because they paid a lot of money for them. I’m talking here about items that are no longer useful or loved or important, but are kept simply because the owner perceives them, rightly or not, as valuable. After all, why would you get rid of something if you paid a lot of money for it? Well, I can see that point, but… Have you ever thought about the ongoing cost of ownership?

First of all, an item takes up space. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a grand piano or a diamond ring, it takes up space in your home, and you pay for space. If it’s a piano, the amount of space is significant! Think about what else you could do with that space if the piano that you don’t use weren’t there. Could you turn that room into a dining room? A home office? A reading nook? Do you have so many unused large items that you are essentially paying rent or a mortgage for a room you don’t need? Are you getting your money’s worth from your space?

This photo was taken by Geert Pieters for Unsplash.

Plus, any object needs to be managed. You have to clean it, clean around or under it, maintain it, repair it, insure it, pick it up and put it away… It costs you time and energy, in addition to mental bandwidth! Managing this item will cost you, and you need to make sure that the cost is worth it in this season of your life.

Then it comes down to the sunk cost fallacy. When we have invested heavily in an item (because we paid a lot of money for it, because we believe that someday we will use up all those scrapbooking supplies, etc.), we are reluctant to let it go, even when we know that letting it go would be more beneficial than keeping it.

This photo was taken by Volodymyr Proskurovskyi for Unsplash.

There are two quotes on this topic that I’d like to share, and I say variations of these things to my clients often. First, Peter Walsh wants us to keep in mind that just as “inexpensive is not a good reason to buy something, expensive is not a good reason to keep something.” Also, Cassandra Aarssen says, “Remember that the money you spent on your item is gone. You will not be richer because you store this item in your home, and you won’t be poorer if you let it go.”

An obvious solution, in those cases, is to sell the item. Or at least, it seems easy in theory, but is less so in practice. Ask yourself whether selling the object is really worth your time and effort. Will you post pictures of it online and field inquiries from people who might be interested, or pay to ship it to the buyer? Will you really have a yard sale or go to multiple consignment stores? Will you be satisfied with getting only a fraction of your money back after all that effort? If yes, then go for it!

Here’s another solution: look at the cost you already paid as a rental fee. You’ve gotten whatever use you were going to get out of this, and now it’s time to let it go. If you must try to sell it, give yourself a deadline after which you will just donate it. Move it along to its next owner, and your payment will be the peace this brings into your life. Besides, the money you spent on it is gone already, even if you were to keep the item! At least this way you get your life back.

This photo was taken by Fuu J for Unsplash.