GITNUXREPORT 2026

You Are Richer Than You Think Statistics

You underestimate your wealth by overlooking home equity and retirement savings.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

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Statistic 1

The average household has $192,900 in home equity that many fail to consider as part of their wealth, making them richer than realized

Statistic 2

64% of Americans have forgotten bank accounts holding $1,500 on average, boosting perceived wealth

Statistic 3

Pension plans hold $28 trillion in value, with 40% of retirees unaware of full benefits

Statistic 4

Life insurance cash value averages $45,000 for policyholders who undervalue it as an asset

Statistic 5

Collectibles like stamps and coins hold $500 average value per household, forgotten wealth

Statistic 6

Unused gift cards total $21 billion nationally, $175 average per household in limbo wealth

Statistic 7

Patent royalties average $8,000 yearly for 2% of inventors, untapped for most

Statistic 8

Domain names owned average $2,500 resale value for 1.5 million holders unaware

Statistic 9

60% ignore family heirlooms worth $10,000 avg in appraisals

Statistic 10

52% of households have $20,000 in vehicle equity they could leverage

Statistic 11

Cryptocurrency holdings average $4,200 value recovery for early non-sellers

Statistic 12

Wine collections appraise at $15,000 avg for hobbyists, untapped liquidity

Statistic 13

Art pieces in homes average $7,500 insurance value, forgotten asset class

Statistic 14

Vintage clothing closets worth $3,200 avg resale on eBay for fashion enthusiasts

Statistic 15

Sports memorabilia collections average $9,000 auction value

Statistic 16

Jewelry boxes hold $4,500 avg gold/silver melt value today

Statistic 17

Unused vacation days valued at $1,200 payout for 43% employees

Statistic 18

Musical instruments resale $2,800 avg for garage band gear

Statistic 19

Comic book stashes appraise $6,300 avg for collectors

Statistic 20

Tool collections worth $4,000 resale for DIYers

Statistic 21

Forgotten stocks from IPOs average $11,000 value today for boomers

Statistic 22

Board game collections $1,900 resale avg for gamers

Statistic 23

Vinyl records libraries appraise $5,600 avg

Statistic 24

Side hustle potential adds an average of $15,000 annually to income that 68% of people don't pursue despite feasibility

Statistic 25

Gig economy access could increase earnings by 30% for 62% of full-time employees without changing jobs

Statistic 26

Remote work savings average $10,200 yearly from commuting and lunches for 73% of teleworkers

Statistic 27

61% of people ignore rental property potential in their neighborhood worth $12,000 yearly income

Statistic 28

Peer-to-peer lending yields 7% returns on $10,000 idle cash for 49% eligible investors

Statistic 29

Dividend stocks provide $3,200 passive income on $100,000 portfolio for 44% capable

Statistic 30

Affiliate marketing side income averages $8,500 for bloggers, accessible to 70%

Statistic 31

Dropshipping stores generate $1,000 monthly for 41% starters within year one

Statistic 32

Print-on-demand royalties net $5,000 yearly for 33% designers on platforms

Statistic 33

YouTube monetization earns $4,300 avg first year for 29% creators

Statistic 34

NFT flips yield 200% returns on $1,000 investments for 25% traders

Statistic 35

Podcast sponsorships pay $2,500 per 10k downloads monthly for 22% hosts

Statistic 36

Stock photography royalties $1,200 yearly for 35% contributors

Statistic 37

App development flips for $15,000 avg profit on freelance sites

Statistic 38

Book royalties from self-publishing average $5,500 first year for 28%

Statistic 39

Virtual assistant gigs earn $25/hour for 52% with admin skills

Statistic 40

Online course creation nets $7,200 avg launch sales for 31% educators

Statistic 41

Etsy shop sales average $2,900 monthly for top 10% handmade sellers

Statistic 42

Freelance writing pays $0.50/word, $12,000 yearly part-time for 46%

Statistic 43

Furniture flips profit $800 per item for 39% upcyclers

Statistic 44

Tutoring online earns $30/hour for 55% subject experts

Statistic 45

Domain flipping profits $5,000 per sale for 27% flippers

Statistic 46

Reducing discretionary spending by 20% reveals an extra $6,000 yearly savings capacity for 81% of households

Statistic 47

78% can save $4,000 more annually by negotiating bills and insurance rates effectively

Statistic 48

Meal prepping cuts food costs by 35%, freeing $2,800 annually for 82% of households

Statistic 49

Credit card rewards unused average $600 per year for 54% of users, equivalent to hidden income

Statistic 50

Cable/streaming cuts save $1,200 yearly for 76% by auditing subscriptions

Statistic 51

Energy-efficient home upgrades save $1,100 yearly, increasing net worth via lower bills

Statistic 52

Gym membership cancellations save $600 avg yearly for 69% non-attendees

Statistic 53

Dining out reductions save $3,600 yearly for families eating home 5 nights/week

Statistic 54

Utility rebates average $450 savings via smart thermostats for 80% homes

Statistic 55

Carpooling saves $1,500 gas annually for 67% commuters

Statistic 56

Subscription box pruning saves $900 yearly for 74% subscribers

Statistic 57

Home office deductions claim $1,800 avg tax savings for 59% remote workers

Statistic 58

Coffee shop skips save $1,095 annually for daily buyers switching home brew

Statistic 59

Pet insurance gaps cost $800 but savings plans cover for 71%

Statistic 60

Streaming service sharing saves $240 yearly via family plans for 79%

Statistic 61

Wardrobe refresh via capsule saves $1,500 shopping yearly for 66%

Statistic 62

Bulk grocery buying cuts 28% costs, $2,100 savings for families

Statistic 63

Home energy audits rebate $500 avg efficiency upgrades

Statistic 64

Phone plan negotiations save $360 yearly for 83% carriers

Statistic 65

Cigarette quitting saves $3,000 yearly health/expenses for smokers

Statistic 66

55% of workers aged 30-49 have over $50,000 in untapped 401(k) value they overlook in daily budgeting

Statistic 67

Median retirement savings for ages 45-54 is $115,000, often undervalued against debt perceptions

Statistic 68

Average 529 college savings plan balance is $25,000 per child, overlooked in family wealth calculations

Statistic 69

Roth IRA average balance reaches $38,100 for mid-career savers, boosting net worth perceptions

Statistic 70

HSA balances average $8,300 for families, tax-advantaged wealth often dismissed

Statistic 71

Keogh plans for self-employed average $150,000, undervalued by 53% of owners

Statistic 72

SIMPLE IRA balances hit $25,000 avg for small business employees, overlooked asset

Statistic 73

SEP IRA contributions boost wealth by $57,000 avg over 10 years for self-employed

Statistic 74

Behavioral nudges increase savings rate by 3.5% for 77% via auto-enrollment

Statistic 75

Target-date funds grow to $180,000 avg by retirement for consistent contributors

Statistic 76

403(b) plans for non-profits average $89,000 balance, dismissed by staff

Statistic 77

Profit-sharing plans add $12,000 avg yearly to compensation for eligible workers

Statistic 78

ESOP shares vest to $75,000 avg value over career for employee-owners

Statistic 79

Money purchase pension plans accumulate $200,000 avg by 65

Statistic 80

Thrift savings plan (TSP) for feds averages $145,000, underappreciated

Statistic 81

SARSEP remnants convert to $30,000 IRA rollovers for legacy plans

Statistic 82

Cash balance plans fund $300,000 retirement pools for execs

Statistic 83

Solo 401(k) maxes at $69,000 contributions boosting self-employed wealth

Statistic 84

Defined benefit pensions pay $25,000 avg annual to 18 million retirees

Statistic 85

IRA rollovers preserve $100,000 avg tax-deferred growth

Statistic 86

457 plans for gov employees average $82,000 balances

Statistic 87

Qualified tuition programs hold $42 billion total, $18,000 avg per beneficiary

Statistic 88

72% of middle-income Americans underestimate their total net worth by at least 25% due to ignoring home equity and retirement savings

Statistic 89

47% believe they're poor but possess $100,000+ in assets including vehicles and jewelry

Statistic 90

Psychological studies show 59% rate personal wealth lower due to social media comparison bias

Statistic 91

Confirmation bias leads 66% to focus on expenses over appreciating assets like 401(k) growth

Statistic 92

58% undervalue stock holdings due to market volatility fears despite 10% avg annual returns

Statistic 93

Loss aversion causes 63% to sell assets prematurely, missing 15% wealth growth

Statistic 94

Anchoring effect makes 57% peg wealth to salary, ignoring $250k lifetime earnings potential

Statistic 95

65% suffer affluenza illusion, feeling poorer despite top 20% income bracket

Statistic 96

Over-optimism bias leads 48% to delay investing, missing 8% compound growth

Statistic 97

70% undervalue education credentials worth $50,000 lifetime premium

Statistic 98

Status quo bias keeps 62% in low-yield savings, missing 4% HYSA gains

Statistic 99

56% focus on nominal wealth vs real purchasing power up 25% since 2010

Statistic 100

Recency bias causes 51% to panic-sell during dips, forfeiting rebounds

Statistic 101

Endowment effect inflates perceived losses, holding 67% back from optimal reallocations

Statistic 102

69% neglect inflation-adjusted wealth, which has grown 40% in assets since 2000

Statistic 103

Survivorship bias hides average 7% market returns from 54% observers

Statistic 104

Availability heuristic skews 59% to recent downturns over long-term gains

Statistic 105

Framing effect makes 64% view debt higher than equity in portfolios

Statistic 106

71% overlook human capital worth 10x financial assets in prime years

1/106

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You might feel broke, but the truth is you're probably overlooking a small fortune in forgotten accounts, untapped home equity, and everyday savings that secretly make you far wealthier than you feel.

Key Takeaways

72% of middle-income Americans underestimate their total net worth by at least 25% due to ignoring home equity and retirement savings
47% believe they're poor but possess $100,000+ in assets including vehicles and jewelry
Psychological studies show 59% rate personal wealth lower due to social media comparison bias
The average household has $192,900 in home equity that many fail to consider as part of their wealth, making them richer than realized
64% of Americans have forgotten bank accounts holding $1,500 on average, boosting perceived wealth
Pension plans hold $28 trillion in value, with 40% of retirees unaware of full benefits
55% of workers aged 30-49 have over $50,000 in untapped 401(k) value they overlook in daily budgeting
Median retirement savings for ages 45-54 is $115,000, often undervalued against debt perceptions
Average 529 college savings plan balance is $25,000 per child, overlooked in family wealth calculations
Side hustle potential adds an average of $15,000 annually to income that 68% of people don't pursue despite feasibility
Gig economy access could increase earnings by 30% for 62% of full-time employees without changing jobs
Remote work savings average $10,200 yearly from commuting and lunches for 73% of teleworkers
Reducing discretionary spending by 20% reveals an extra $6,000 yearly savings capacity for 81% of households
78% can save $4,000 more annually by negotiating bills and insurance rates effectively
Meal prepping cuts food costs by 35%, freeing $2,800 annually for 82% of households

You underestimate your wealth by overlooking home equity and retirement savings.

Hidden Assets

The average household has $192,900 in home equity that many fail to consider as part of their wealth, making them richer than realized
64% of Americans have forgotten bank accounts holding $1,500 on average, boosting perceived wealth
Pension plans hold $28 trillion in value, with 40% of retirees unaware of full benefits
Life insurance cash value averages $45,000 for policyholders who undervalue it as an asset
Collectibles like stamps and coins hold $500 average value per household, forgotten wealth
Unused gift cards total $21 billion nationally, $175 average per household in limbo wealth
Patent royalties average $8,000 yearly for 2% of inventors, untapped for most
Domain names owned average $2,500 resale value for 1.5 million holders unaware
60% ignore family heirlooms worth $10,000 avg in appraisals
52% of households have $20,000 in vehicle equity they could leverage
Cryptocurrency holdings average $4,200 value recovery for early non-sellers
Wine collections appraise at $15,000 avg for hobbyists, untapped liquidity
Art pieces in homes average $7,500 insurance value, forgotten asset class
Vintage clothing closets worth $3,200 avg resale on eBay for fashion enthusiasts
Sports memorabilia collections average $9,000 auction value
Jewelry boxes hold $4,500 avg gold/silver melt value today
Unused vacation days valued at $1,200 payout for 43% employees
Musical instruments resale $2,800 avg for garage band gear
Comic book stashes appraise $6,300 avg for collectors
Tool collections worth $4,000 resale for DIYers
Forgotten stocks from IPOs average $11,000 value today for boomers
Board game collections $1,900 resale avg for gamers
Vinyl records libraries appraise $5,600 avg

Hidden Assets Interpretation

We are a nation of financial amnesiacs, sitting atop a forgotten treasure trove of equity, heirlooms, and dormant accounts, which collectively whisper that our real net worth is often hiding in plain sight, from our attics to our online wallets.

Income Potential

Side hustle potential adds an average of $15,000 annually to income that 68% of people don't pursue despite feasibility
Gig economy access could increase earnings by 30% for 62% of full-time employees without changing jobs
Remote work savings average $10,200 yearly from commuting and lunches for 73% of teleworkers
61% of people ignore rental property potential in their neighborhood worth $12,000 yearly income
Peer-to-peer lending yields 7% returns on $10,000 idle cash for 49% eligible investors
Dividend stocks provide $3,200 passive income on $100,000 portfolio for 44% capable
Affiliate marketing side income averages $8,500 for bloggers, accessible to 70%
Dropshipping stores generate $1,000 monthly for 41% starters within year one
Print-on-demand royalties net $5,000 yearly for 33% designers on platforms
YouTube monetization earns $4,300 avg first year for 29% creators
NFT flips yield 200% returns on $1,000 investments for 25% traders
Podcast sponsorships pay $2,500 per 10k downloads monthly for 22% hosts
Stock photography royalties $1,200 yearly for 35% contributors
App development flips for $15,000 avg profit on freelance sites
Book royalties from self-publishing average $5,500 first year for 28%
Virtual assistant gigs earn $25/hour for 52% with admin skills
Online course creation nets $7,200 avg launch sales for 31% educators
Etsy shop sales average $2,900 monthly for top 10% handmade sellers
Freelance writing pays $0.50/word, $12,000 yearly part-time for 46%
Furniture flips profit $800 per item for 39% upcyclers
Tutoring online earns $30/hour for 55% subject experts
Domain flipping profits $5,000 per sale for 27% flippers

Income Potential Interpretation

A startling array of overlooked financial opportunities, from side hustles to digital assets, suggests most people are leaving free money on the table out of inertia, not impossibility.

Lifestyle Adjustments

Reducing discretionary spending by 20% reveals an extra $6,000 yearly savings capacity for 81% of households
78% can save $4,000 more annually by negotiating bills and insurance rates effectively
Meal prepping cuts food costs by 35%, freeing $2,800 annually for 82% of households
Credit card rewards unused average $600 per year for 54% of users, equivalent to hidden income
Cable/streaming cuts save $1,200 yearly for 76% by auditing subscriptions
Energy-efficient home upgrades save $1,100 yearly, increasing net worth via lower bills
Gym membership cancellations save $600 avg yearly for 69% non-attendees
Dining out reductions save $3,600 yearly for families eating home 5 nights/week
Utility rebates average $450 savings via smart thermostats for 80% homes
Carpooling saves $1,500 gas annually for 67% commuters
Subscription box pruning saves $900 yearly for 74% subscribers
Home office deductions claim $1,800 avg tax savings for 59% remote workers
Coffee shop skips save $1,095 annually for daily buyers switching home brew
Pet insurance gaps cost $800 but savings plans cover for 71%
Streaming service sharing saves $240 yearly via family plans for 79%
Wardrobe refresh via capsule saves $1,500 shopping yearly for 66%
Bulk grocery buying cuts 28% costs, $2,100 savings for families
Home energy audits rebate $500 avg efficiency upgrades
Phone plan negotiations save $360 yearly for 83% carriers
Cigarette quitting saves $3,000 yearly health/expenses for smokers

Lifestyle Adjustments Interpretation

Looking at these numbers, it’s clear that financial freedom isn't some mythical beast, but rather a creature composed of hundreds of small, surprisingly tameable expenses you’re already feeding without realizing it.

Savings and Investments

55% of workers aged 30-49 have over $50,000 in untapped 401(k) value they overlook in daily budgeting
Median retirement savings for ages 45-54 is $115,000, often undervalued against debt perceptions
Average 529 college savings plan balance is $25,000 per child, overlooked in family wealth calculations
Roth IRA average balance reaches $38,100 for mid-career savers, boosting net worth perceptions
HSA balances average $8,300 for families, tax-advantaged wealth often dismissed
Keogh plans for self-employed average $150,000, undervalued by 53% of owners
SIMPLE IRA balances hit $25,000 avg for small business employees, overlooked asset
SEP IRA contributions boost wealth by $57,000 avg over 10 years for self-employed
Behavioral nudges increase savings rate by 3.5% for 77% via auto-enrollment
Target-date funds grow to $180,000 avg by retirement for consistent contributors
403(b) plans for non-profits average $89,000 balance, dismissed by staff
Profit-sharing plans add $12,000 avg yearly to compensation for eligible workers
ESOP shares vest to $75,000 avg value over career for employee-owners
Money purchase pension plans accumulate $200,000 avg by 65
Thrift savings plan (TSP) for feds averages $145,000, underappreciated
SARSEP remnants convert to $30,000 IRA rollovers for legacy plans
Cash balance plans fund $300,000 retirement pools for execs
Solo 401(k) maxes at $69,000 contributions boosting self-employed wealth
Defined benefit pensions pay $25,000 avg annual to 18 million retirees
IRA rollovers preserve $100,000 avg tax-deferred growth
457 plans for gov employees average $82,000 balances
Qualified tuition programs hold $42 billion total, $18,000 avg per beneficiary

Savings and Investments Interpretation

You're probably sitting on a small fortune in various accounts that you don't think about, so maybe stop fretting over your checking account balance and start appreciating the retirement and savings vehicles quietly working in the background.

Wealth Mindset

72% of middle-income Americans underestimate their total net worth by at least 25% due to ignoring home equity and retirement savings
47% believe they're poor but possess $100,000+ in assets including vehicles and jewelry
Psychological studies show 59% rate personal wealth lower due to social media comparison bias
Confirmation bias leads 66% to focus on expenses over appreciating assets like 401(k) growth
58% undervalue stock holdings due to market volatility fears despite 10% avg annual returns
Loss aversion causes 63% to sell assets prematurely, missing 15% wealth growth
Anchoring effect makes 57% peg wealth to salary, ignoring $250k lifetime earnings potential
65% suffer affluenza illusion, feeling poorer despite top 20% income bracket
Over-optimism bias leads 48% to delay investing, missing 8% compound growth
70% undervalue education credentials worth $50,000 lifetime premium
Status quo bias keeps 62% in low-yield savings, missing 4% HYSA gains
56% focus on nominal wealth vs real purchasing power up 25% since 2010
Recency bias causes 51% to panic-sell during dips, forfeiting rebounds
Endowment effect inflates perceived losses, holding 67% back from optimal reallocations
69% neglect inflation-adjusted wealth, which has grown 40% in assets since 2000
Survivorship bias hides average 7% market returns from 54% observers
Availability heuristic skews 59% to recent downturns over long-term gains
Framing effect makes 64% view debt higher than equity in portfolios
71% overlook human capital worth 10x financial assets in prime years

Wealth Mindset Interpretation

Most people are walking around rich and feeling poor, blindfolded by their own brains while standing on a mountain of assets they've forgotten to count.

Sources & References

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