Brit loses at least three physical items a month with many spending up to an hour searching for them
It’s not just keys, glasses or phones that Brits are prone to misplacing – it’s also receipts and vouchers. A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that 52% confessed they’ve arrived at a checkout or returns counter without the necessary receipt. The average Brit loses track of at least three physical items a month, with 27% spending anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour searching for them.
Other frequently misplaced belongings include the TV remote (24%), house keys (19%) and earbuds or headphones (15%). Yet 83% now also struggle with finding documents or files on their gadgets, with a third devoting between one and six hours monthly to this hunt.
The research was commissioned by Samsung, which is launching its new Galaxy Book6 series at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. The gadget is engineered to assist users in locating documents, photographs and contacts, even when they can’t remember precise details.
Annika Bizon, spokesperson for Samsung UK & Ireland, said: “Searching for something you can’t find on a device can be even more infuriating than losing your house keys, you know it’s there, you just can’t find it.
“Now you can ask for what you’re looking for in a natural, human way, just as you would ask a friend.
“You don’t need to remember file names or folders, because it’s designed around how people remember, not how computers store information, helping give valuable time back.”
The study also found that 30% have misplaced vital passwords, while others have lost emails or photos and struggled to retrieve them.
A third said they find it more challenging to organise items on their mobile, tablet or computer than in real life.
Additionally, 52% said disruptions to their daily routine make them more absent-minded, while 34% confessed they’ve lost more belongings as they’ve aged.
Nearly one in five (19%) can ‘never’ find the document they need to share with friends or family.
People generally have over 3,000 documents, photos or videos stored on their devices. More than a third waste precious time scrolling through their camera roll trying to locate something on their mobile, tablet or computer.
Meanwhile, 31% struggle to remember which folder or chat contains their desired item on their gadgets. Among those polled by OnePoll.com, 35% said that what they’re searching for is often accidentally saved in the wrong place.
Annika Bizon for Samsung Galaxy Book6, added: “Losing things isn’t just inconvenient, it can really disrupt your day.
“Whether it’s a receipt or a file, those small moments of frustration add up. Staying on top of both physical and digital clutter is becoming an essential skill for modern life.”
TOP ITEMS BRITS COMMONLY MISPLACE:
1. TV remote
2. Glasses/sunglasses
3. Receipts/vouchers
4. House keys
5. Mobile phone
6. Earbuds/headphones
7. Paperwork
8. Car keys
9. Chargers
10. Bank cards
