Britons have spent billions of pounds on household gadgets such as sandwich toasters and bathroom scales that they ended up never or rarely using, a study said on Monday.
Online home-insurance firm Esure, which commissioned a survey by ICM, estimated Britons have collectively spent £9,4-billion (R109,7-billion) during their lifetime on gadgets.
The figures published by Esure.com include £4,1-billion spent on gadgets as gifts for friends and family that end up gathering dust. About 24% of those polled admitted they thought they might never be used.
Topping the list of white elephants was the sandwich toaster, with 45% of those polled admitted to not using and spending a total of £21,51-million.
Next were bathroom scales, with 31% at £14,82-million; coffee machines, 30% at £14,34-million; foot spas at 22% and £10,52-million; and electric knives at 21% and £10,04-million.
The remaining top 10 items were electric tin openers, bread makers, vegetable preparation devices such as potato peelers, soda streams and face saunas.
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,” Sellers said. — AFP