Americans spend the highest percentage of their income on housing (roughly 33%), followed by transportation (17%), and food (12.9%). Beyond essential living expenses, Americans frequently purchase consumer goods like clothing, footwear, technology (smartphones/TVs), and automobiles.
The most sold item in the world is clothing and fashion items. This ranges from women's and men's outfits to children's clothing, shoes, accessories, and more. People love their clothes, and fashion isn't going anywhere!
Variety: Clothing, jewelry, home decor, and video games remain the top categories for reselling in 2026. Acquisition: Sourcing items from yard sales, thrift stores, and online marketplaces can yield significant profits.
Meanwhile, online shopping as well as food delivery have made it easier to indulge in treats. Indeed, Gen Z uses grocery subscriptions 133% more often than Gen X, according to a 2024 PYMNTS survey of more than 67,000 consumers across 11 countries accounting for nearly half the world's GDP.
The 70% money rule, often part of the 70/20/10 budget rule, is a simple budgeting guideline that suggests allocating your after-tax income into three main categories: 70% for essential living expenses (needs like rent, groceries, bills), 20% for savings and investments, and 10% for debt repayment or financial goals (wants/future goals). It provides a clear framework for controlling spending, building wealth, and managing debt, though percentages can be adjusted for individual financial situations.
The 5-4-3-2-1 grocery method is a viral TikTok trend for balanced, easy meal planning, guiding you to buy 5 vegetables, 4 fruits, 3 proteins, 2 grains/carbs, and 1 fun treat (or 2 sauces/spreads + 1 treat) for the week, simplifying shopping by focusing on food groups rather than specific recipes, allowing for flexibility while ensuring a variety of nutrients.
In 2024, a painting by blind artist Gafur Timeryanov, titled The Way, appeared on Amazon priced at $32 million. Timeryanov, who paints by touch and handcrafts his own frames, reportedly had the most expensive item ever sold on Amazon.