NEWS COPY
The average UK household fritters away a whopping £9,051 a year on items they will never use, according to research.
A survey polling 2,000 adults revealed we splurge thousands of pounds each year – on things which mostly go untouched – including food, beauty products and phone contracts.
During a typical year, we’ll blow £2,026 on food and drinks - including takeaway meals, bottled water or items left in the fridge or cupboards.
We’ll also spend £733 on clothes which remain in the wardrobe untouched over the same period – £544 will go on unused beauty products and £526 on toiletries.
And on top of that £628 will be wasted on TV packages they rarely or never watch, while £528 will go on unused mobile phone credit.
Commissioned by Lottoland, the research found one fifth admit they tend to buy things and never use them again.
A spokeswoman from Lottoland said: “The survey shows that us Brits like to spend, spend, spend.
“But what if we had the money to do without feeling guilty or worrying our money should be placed elsewhere?''
The research also found 22 per cent were wasteful with they’re money because they believe they’re getting a good deal at the time.
A fifth said they do not think the purchase through before buying – and one in 10 reveal they get a ‘high’ from impulse buying.
And one in 10 consider pass it off as a bad habit, while one in seven simply can’t be bothered to return items purchased for a full refund.
Further to this, a fifth revealed their spending habits have caused arguments between them and their partner.
The Lottoland research carried out through OnePoll found we also tend to waste £504 on CDs, DVDs and vinyl - perhaps due to the advent of smaller, more portable devices and streaming software.
Entertainment-centric Brits said they spend approximately £560 on gaming a year – buying the latest computer games or consoles.
The research also found they will splash out on events over the year, with £531 going towards having fun at gigs, concerts, shows and festivals.
But despite the millions of us who admit they tend to waste their hard-earned cash, 69 per cent believe they are good with money.
Lottoland’s spokeswoman added: “Spending over £9,000 a year on items we don’t use is a shockingly high number.''
* Lottoland gives you the opportunity to bet on over 30 lotteries from around the world, and if you don’t fancy your luck on these you could try one of 50 instant-win games.
Lottoland is offering new customers 50 per cent discount on its most popular games in its Winter sale.
WHAT BRITS WASTE THEIR MONEY ON EVERY YEAR:
Food £1,337
Clothes £733
Drinks £689
TV packages £628
Gym £588
Travel £585
Gaming £580
Beauty products £544
Events £531
Toiletries £526
Phone credit £522
CDs/vinyls/DVDs £502
Cleaning products £494
Furniture £112
Electronic equipment £112
Mobile phone devices and accessories £93
Kid's items £81
Jewellery £64
Kitchen items £63
Garden tools £63
Leisure equipment £59
Art £52
Musical instruments £48
Golf Clubs £45
ENDS
