IN BLANKSTARE NEWS: The money we waste

a new survey, Americans have way too much stuff we don't need. When you take away the things we need to survive, the average American spends $18,000 a year on things we don't need.

We all know how much money we spend on essential items like food, clothing, mortgage/rent, and other living expenses, but what about how much money we waste on non-essential things? According to a new survey, Americans have way too much stuff we don't need. When you take away the things we need to survive, the average American spends $18,000 a year on things we don't need. Of that $18,000, about $3,700 is spent on impulse buys. And because we have so much extra stuff, 21% say they rent a storage unit to keep everything that won't fit in their homes.