Middle-Class Abundance Study from UCLA

I stumbled up these videos while recently browsing for anti-consumerism research. These are the results of a 10-year study of 32 different families conducted by anthropologists and archaeologists from UCLA. What's probably more startling that how many things people have, is that it's really not far from what I have seen in many homes growing up. This is becoming all too common and after watching these while writing this post, I got up from my laptop and started to clean my kitchen. Just the thought of ever becoming this filled with clutter makes me nervous.

I am not sure what has fueled this more, whether that is advertising, the super consumer economy we're created, or the fact that people just can't throw away or donate something! Most of the things in these videos just look like they purchased things on a whim (as I know all too well) or have stockpiled for some unknown reason or to quell some subconscious feat that they have within them. I do know that it's best to realize that when you are at this point, it may be time to reconsider how you're living, what you're using the space in your home for, and if you really need all of the things within it.

The results of the study were published with photographs in the book, Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century, and serves as a window into the homes of busy parents and their children. Check out the videos below to get a taste for how others live and then consider how you're currently using your home.