The public’s perception of necessities in 1983

Rank Standard of living items in rank order % classing item as necessity Note
1 Heating to warm living areas of the home if it’s cold 97
2 Indoor toilet (not shared with another household) 96
3 Damp-free home 96
4 Bath (not shared with another household) 94
5 Beds for everyone in the household 94
6 Public transport for one’s needs 88
7 A warm water-proof coat 87
8 Three meals a day for children 82 For families with children only
9 Self-contained accommodation 79
10 Two pairs of all-weather shoes 78
11 Enough bedrooms for every child over 10 of different sex to have his/her own 77 For families with children only
12 Refrigerator 77
13 Toys for children 71 For families with children only
14 Carpets in living rooms and bedrooms 70
15 Celebrations on special occasions such as Christmas 69
16 A roast meat joint or its equivalent once a week 67
17 A washing machine 67
18 New, not second-hand, clothes 64
19 A hobby or leisure activity 64
20 Two hot meals a day (for adults) 64
21 Meat or fish every other day 63
22 Presents for friends or family once a year 63
23 A holiday away from home for one week a year, not with relatives 63
24 Leisure equipment for children e.g. sports equipment or a bicycle 57 For families with children only
25 A garden 55
26 A television 51
27 A ‘best outfit’ for special occasions 48
28 A telephone 43
29 An outing for children once a week 40 For families with children only
30 A dressing gown 38
31 Children’s friends round for tea/a snack once a fortnight 37 For families with children only
32 A night out once a fortnight (adults) 36
33 Friends/family round for a meal once a month 32
34 A car 22
35 A packet of cigarettes every other day 14

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