the pew research center recently conducted a survey of 1,003 americans to determine their opinion on which consumer goods they consider a luxury and which they consider a necessity. here are their findings:
ITEM % RESPONDED NECESSITY
- car 88%
- landline phone 68%
- clothes dryer 66%
- air conditioner 55%
- television 52%
- home computer 50%
- cell phone 49%
- microwave 47%
- high-speed internet 31%
- cable/satellite tv 23%
- dishwasher 21%
- flat-screen tv 08%
- ipod 04%
generally speaking, you will notice in the internals of the data that the percentage who rate items as “necessary” is directly parallel to current macro-economics. each of the items above peaked as “necessary” in 2006 and have declined since. interesting how many in your pocket changes your view of possessions…
of the items above, which do you find interesting?
There are many alternatives.
Use public transportation, a bike or walk.
Communicate via snail mail or face to face.
Change kitchenware by changing recipes.
Dry clothes on a folding clothes dryer.
A portable handheld computer seems to be the most convenient, time-saving and multi-purposed item to communicate, entertain, research, accomplish work.
With less to maintain, washing dishes by hand may not seem like a big chore.
It’s not about what you don’t use. It’s about what you do as an alternative. There are many things you can do without.