We’ve delved into data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) to find out which age groups spend the most and least on various aspects of household spending, so you can see how your spending compares.
Average UK Spending on Household Goods & Services, by Category
Of the £2,116 spent by UK households each year on their homes, nearly half goes towards big-ticket items like furniture and furnishings, representing nearly 8% of the average UK household budget. After furniture and furnishings, we tend to put the most money towards routine household maintenance to keep our homes running well and appliances like washing machines, toasters and hoovers.
| Average Annual UK Spending on Household Goods & Services | |
|---|---|
| Furniture and furnishings | £978 |
| Routine household maintenance | £348 |
| Household appliances | £224 |
| Floor Coverings | £198 |
| Tools and equipment for house and garden | £151 |
| Household textiles | £114 |
| Glassware, tableware and household utensils | £99 |
| Average Annual Spend | £2,116 |
Average UK Spending on Household Goods & Services, by Age
Households aged 50 to 64 years old spend more than any other age group on household goods & services, spending £2,387 per year (13% more than average) on furniture, textiles, appliances, etc. The youngest and oldest among us spend the least, with under 30s parting with £1,820 and the over 75s spending £1,321 each year on their homes.
| Average Annual UK Spending on Household Goods & Services, by age | |
|---|---|
| Less than 30 | £1,820 |
| 30 to 49 | £2,231 |
| 50 to 64 | £2,387 |
| 65 to 74 | £2,304 |
| 75 or Over | £1,321 |
| Average Annual Spend | £2,116 |
Breaking Down the Data
Depending on their stage of life, people tend to spend more or less on specific areas of their homes such as furniture, textiles, appliances, etc. To see how these spending patterns change with age, we’ve used the data to see which age group spends the least and the most by subcategory. For instance, the under 30s spend more on textiles than other age groups, whereas the 50 to 64 year olds spend more on furniture and glassware than other ages.
| Which Age Group Spends… | the Least? | the Most? |
|---|---|---|
| Household textiles | Over 75 | Under 30 |
| Glassware, tableware and household utensils | Over 75 | 30 to 49 & 50 to 64 |
| Furniture, furnishings and floor coverings | Over 75 | 50 to 64 |
| Household appliances | Under 30 | 65 to 75 |
| Tools and equipment for house and garden | Under 30 | 50 to 64 |
| Routine household maintenance | Under 30 | Over 75 |
Specifically, we can see the average annual household spending for each subcategory by age group in the following table and chart.
| How UK Households Spend on Their Homes | Under 30 | 30 to 49 | 50 to 64 | 65 to 74 | Over 75 | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Furniture and furnishings | £1,076 | £1,118 | £1,076 | £1,009 | £359 | £978 |
| Goods and services for routine household | £182 | £348 | £385 | £354 | £385 | £348 |
| Household textiles | £135 | £114 | £114 | £130 | £109 | £114 |
| Floor coverings | £130 | £182 | £265 | £234 | £104 | £198 |
| Household appliances | £109 | £234 | £224 | £296 | £208 | £224 |
| Glassware, tableware and household utensils | £99 | £114 | £114 | £99 | £42 | £99 |
| Tools and equipment for house and garden | £94 | £125 | £203 | £172 | £109 | £151 |
| Average Annual Spending | £1,820 | £2,230 | £2,387 | £2,304 | 1321 | £2,116 |
For more information and methodology, please see the full data study at NimbleFins.co.uk.
