Buying cheap and cheerful has resulted in a throwaway culture, according to new research.
With more deals and low-cost products crowding the market, Brits are now making purchasing decisions based on a ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ mentality.
But skimping on quality is costing us a small fortune, with the average Brit throwing out almost £700-worth of broken or unwanted possessions every year. The bin man will collect £80-worth of furniture, £77-worth of electricals and £73-worth of home appliances from each Brit per year, with almost half of Brits throwing things away to clear space in their home and a quarter falling out of love with their belongings as current styles change.
Andrew Halsall, Managing Director of British manufacturer, Origin, who commissioned the survey, said “We live in a throwaway culture and are regularly bombarded with offers that can seem too tempting to pass up, but as the survey shows, buying cheap and cheerful isn’t always best.
“It is also increasingly rare to find products that will stand the test of time and the expectations of product lifespans are dropping.
“The research also revealed the huge amount that we each spend replacing broken possessions and homewares, a figure that can be reduced dramatically if we choose high quality products with a longer manufacturer’s guarantee.”
When it comes to opinions over modern manufacturing standards, 69 per cent of Brits believe that items made 20 years ago last longer than products made today. The 1,000 over 55s who were surveyed care more about build quality than younger generations but are less confident about fixing broken appliances and items themselves, with only 35 per cent willing to get stuck in with home maintenance.
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