With the average British home shown to be the smallest in Europe earlier this year, coming in at just 76sq m, on demand storage service, new research reveals that Brits have been reluctantly disposing of possessions in an effort to adapt.
According to research commissioned by Boxman , over half (53%) of us have been forced to throw away items in an attempt to create more space in our homes.
But the decision to depart with cherished items has clearly taken a serious emotional toll on the public, with 70% of respondents admitting they later regretted not having kept their treasured possessions. Making room for a partner is the most common trigger for a clear out, with three in five 18 – 35 year olds (61%) claiming they needed the extra space to accommodate the new living arrangements. However, it seems that women call the shots when deciding what stays and what goes, with 73% of men revealing they regret throwing away their items whilst a third of women (31%) said they were unconcerned with the loss.
Astonishingly, and perhaps proving that the term ‘nerd’ is synonymous with both sexes, a significant 20% of women admitted they were most under pressure to bin treasured collections of action figures, comics and trading cards. But despite revealing a gender shift in favourite hobbies, the research did reveal an age old stereotype, with 8% of men admitting they felt inclined to dispose of old collections of pornography before their spouses discovered them.
Resisting the urge to shop tests the willpower of even those with Olympic determination, and perhaps unsurprisingly clothes are the main culprit when it comes to a cluttered home. Almost half of Brits (45%) admitted they felt under pressure from their significant other to clear out apparel that was out of fashion and hogging their wardrobe space.
The top 10 items Brits commonly throw away
- Clothes / shoes
- Cuddly toys
- CD collections
- Bags / suitcases
- School projects /art work
- Old diaries
- Old trophies
- Actions figures
- Comics
- Stamps
Paul Stricker, Founder and Managing Director of Boxman, said: “The lack of space in the modern British home means keeping personal treasures and mementoes, or anything that is not of immediate and everyday use, is becoming a luxury that few can afford. It’s a very common problem in expensive cities like London where rapidly rising housing costs mean it’s crucial to make best use of every last square foot.
“Storage was once an option that few considered, because it was expensive and too much hassle. At Boxman, we wanted to offer a better alternative – a fast and convenient way for people to store their goods, keeping them on hand for whenever and wherever required, and all at an affordable price without long term commitment.
"With on demand storage, Brits now have the opportunity to increase the space in their homes and to boost their standard of living, rather than being coerced into throwing away cherished items, which as this research proves, will often end up being something they regret.”