Millions lost in unused gadgets

12th September, 2005

We've all had a Christmas present that never comes out of the box, but today a new survey calculates that these luxuries left discarded at home equates to £9.4 billion in wasted value.

The collective worth of these wasted items suggests that for most households, home insurance should be a priority.

Many people underestimate the value of the contents of their home, and when taking out home insurance, it is important to evaluate the total cost of replacing items carefully.

Sandwich toasters were the main item that people wished they hadn't bothered purchasing, with families spending £315 million on the kitchen appliances, reveals esure.com.

A third of households said that they had bathroom scales, yet never bothered to use them, while third on the list was coffee machines, which most people said never came out of the box though seemed a good idea at the time.

Nikki Sellers, head of home insurance at esure.com said, 'Many of us are suckers for advertising and fanatical about keeping up with the latest fads and must-have gadgets.

But as a nation we're guilty of boxing up and stockpiling our white elephant household gadgets in lofts, garages, wardrobes and drawers, leaving them out of sight and easily forgotten.'

Nearly one in four Brits admitted to buying gadgets for friends and family that they know will not be used.

 

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