These Household Items Have Expiration Dates That Cost You Up To $320 A Year
Expiry date does not just apply for food.
All of our household items have an expiration date to it too.
One such common example is our toothbrushes’ bristles become splayed or frayed after using it for some time.
Source: Reader’s Digest
The same applies to many households products which incur costs over time without you knowing.
How Much Does These Expiry Dates Cost Us A Year?
As most of the household items mentioned are necessities, we pay for these items on a daily basis without realising how much they cost.
Here’s a breakdown of how much you are actually spending on each year on these household items.
Average yearly cost of household items in the bedroom
| Item | Consumption per year | Average cost of item | Average cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pillows | 0.33 - 0.50 per year | $23.90 - $99 | $7.90 - $49.50 |
| Bedroom Slippers | 2 per year | $6.40 Free (If you managed to take some from your hotel stay) | $12.80 |
Source: redmart/ hipvan/ fortytwo/ Lazada
Average yearly cost of household items in the bathroom
| Item | Consumption per year | Average Cost of item | Average cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sponge | 24 per year | $2 | $48 |
| Shower Pouf | 2 per year | $19.36 | $38.72 |
| Towel | 0.33 to 1 per year | $11.90 FREE (If you use SAF one) | $3.97 - $11.90 |
| Toothbrush | 4 per year | $7.90 for 5 | $6.32 |
Source: redmart/ hipvan/ Lazada
Average yearly cost of household items in the wardrobe
| Item | Consumption per year | Average cost of item | Average cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairbrush | 1 per year | $6.90 | $6.90 |
| Bra | 0.5 - 1 per year | $30 | $15 - $30 |
| Running shoes | 0.5 per year | $79 (For a reasonable adidas one) FREE (if from e-mart) | $39.50 |
Source: Lazada
Average yearly cost of household items
| Item | Consumption per year | Average Cost of item | Average cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disinfectants | 4 per year | $10.80 (Dettol) | $43.20 |
| Mosquito repellents | 0.5 per year | $7.20 | $3.60 |
| Power strips | 0.5 to 1 per year | $17.90 | $8.95 - $17.90 |
Average yearly cost of household items in the kitchen
| Item | Consumption per year | Average cost of item | Average cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flour | 4 per year | $2.50 | $10 |
| Wooden spoons | 0.2 per year | $2.50 | $0.50 |
Source: redmart
The Expiration Date for These Household Items
All of our household items have this underlying rate at which they expire and is unhealthy and dangerous if we continue using them.
Most of the time we only start to replace these items when the depreciation is quite visual apparent, but that is not the best practice.
In some cases such as the sponges we use and the wooden spoons in our kitchen, it is the bacteria hidden in the cracks that are harmful.
Below are some useful information on the expiration date of some of the household items we use in our daily lives. 
The expiration date of household items in the bedroom
| Item | Average Expiration Date | Consumption per year |
|---|---|---|
| Pillows | 2-3 years | 0.33 - 0.50 per year |
| Bedroom Slippers | 6 months | 2 per year |
The expiration date of household items in the bathroom
| Item | Average Expiration Date | Consumption per year |
|---|---|---|
| Sponge | 2 weeks | 24 per year |
| Shower Pouf | 6 months | 2 per year |
| Towel | 1 - 3 years | 0.33 to 1 per year |
| Toothbrush | 3 months | 4 per year |
The expiration date of household items in the wardrobe
| Item | Average Expiration Date | Consumption per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hairbrush | 1 Year | 1 per year |
| Bra | 1 - 2 Years | 0.5 - 1 per year |
| Running shoes | 2 years | 0.5 per year |
The expiration date of household items in the kitchen
| Item | Average Expiration Date | Consumption per year |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 3 months | 4 per year |
| Wooden spoons | 5 Years | 0.2 per year |
The expiration date of other household items
| Item | Average Expiration Date | Consumption per year |
|---|---|---|
| Disinfectants | 3 months | 4 per year |
| Mosquito repellents | 2 Years | 0.5 per year |
| Power strips | 1 - 2 years | 0.5 to 1 per year |
Source: dailyusefulinfo.com
Tips To Save On Household Items
As mentioned in some of the tables, some of the household items can be bought from the E-mart if any of your family members still has extra credits to spare.
On top of that, one can also attempt to load up on items such as toothbrushes, sponge by bulk-buying during the sales period. Year end online shopping deal dates is a great way to start.
