Sampsa Kiianmaa, a programme coordinator for Finland's WWF, experimented with cutting down his possessions to around just 100 items. He found the experience both interesting and educational.
"I started by listing what is important to me and what I rarely use. Items I rarely use can be borrowed or purchased if I need them and then re-sold, so they don't take up space," Kiianmaa told YLE.
Phone and Computer Important
The National Consumer Research Centre surveyed not only views on what people consider essential, but also asked consumers about what they considered a minimum budget. On the basis of the study, the centre created a minimum functional budget for four different types of households. Not counting housing or transport expenses, it was set at 576-578 euros/month for a single person under the age of 45, at 495-499 euros/month for a single person over the age of 65, 957 euros/month for a couple and 1,497 euros/month for a couple with children.
According to one of the researchers, Anna-Riitta Lehtinen, variation among different types of households is not actually very great. What was surprising was the monthly sum that people considered as a minimum needed to be spent on telecommunications.
"A cell phone and a computer are essential in today's society," noted Lehtinen.
The importance of social contacts was also stressed by people in the study. The basic necessities do not mean only things needed, but also the opportunity to move about and meet other people.
The results of the study will be made available to debt counsellors to help them guide clients in formulating and managing budgets.
Kiianmaa considers it interesting why people gather possession beyond their needs.
"We compare ourselves to others and if someone else has more possessions, we feel that we are not as successful as they are. This leads to a need to compete," Kiianmaa points out.
