The Precious and the Pricey: What Items People Value and Cherish in their Homes

THE Precious AND THE PRICEY WHAT ITEMS PEOPLE VALUE AND CHERISH IN THEIR HOMES We fill our homes with all the things that are important to us. Sometimes those things are expensive gadgets we could do without, and sometimes those things are priceless tokens to which we have strong emotional ties. But both things have a place in our homes. Can the economically valuable ever be our most precious as well? It turns out it can to some. HOW WE VALUE OUR BELONGINGS VALUE VERSUS SENTIMENT GENDER DIVIDE To 3 IN 4 people, the most valuable items they own aren't their most precious or sentimental. More men than women say their most financially valuable item is also their more precious item. Is the most financially valuable item you own also the most precious item to you? Is the most financially valuable item you own also the most precious item to you? YES NO YES NO | 23% 26% 77% Women 74% O £££ 29% 71% Men THE PRECIOUS VERSUS THE PRICEY WHAT'S PRECIOUS WHAT'S VALUABLE Photos top the list of items people consider most sentimental. Computer equipment is the number one most expensive item in people's homes, followed closely by jewellery. What's the single most precious or sentimental item you own? What's the most expensive object you own that's stored inside your house? 19% 41%..: 13% 24%-. Jewellery or watch Computer consoles and PCs Photos An item I inherited 18%....: -11% 12%.. TV and/or DVD Furniture players and equipment Letters 10% Jewellery 5%- Designer clothes, shoes, accessories Valuable antiques Drawings my child has done :5% 4% My music collection Valuable artwork 5% 4%...: 3% Musical instruments Ornaments or pictures 4% or equipment Photographic equipment Other 2% -2% Tools 3% LOVE YOU Cycles 1%. ..2% Something a friend made me 1% Musical instruments or equipment Sports equipment Other SENTIMENT CHANGES BY AGE AND GENDER WHAT'S MORE PRECIOUS TO EACH GENDER Women appear more sentimental about inherited items, whereas men are more sentimental about letters. 1. 1. Photos Photos 2. 2. Letters Jewellery 3. A 3. MEN An item I inherited WOMEN Letters PRECIOUS PHOTOGRAPHS LETTERS WITH MEANING Though both men and women agreed that photos are the most precious items they own, it appears older adults are more sentimental about their photos. Younger adults are more sentimental about personal letters, compared to older adults. Percent of Groups Who Consider Letters the Most Precious Item They Own Percent of Groups Who Consider Photos the Most Precious Item They Own 44% 44% 42% 40% 28% 23% 15% 12% 11% 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+ 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+ SOURCE: POLL OF 2,000 HOMEOWNERS IN THE UK CARRIED OUT BY ONEPOLL ON BEHALF OF CONFUSED.COM DURING APRIL 2012 Confused.com