CHECK THIS OUT: ThermoSoft, one of the country’s leading distributors of in-floor heating, surveyed 1,000 people and asked them about common American “luxuries” — smartphones, dishwashers, personal trainers, etc — then we rated their answers based on commitment level and cost. What’s the luxury you can’t live without? (For the record, I agree with everyone who says smartphones!)


It’s no surprise that Internet access and smartphones rank at the top, each with the highest score of the lot. Nearly all basic needs, as well as convenience needs, can be researched or accessed through the Internet.

As a bonus, the Internet also provides entertainment and communication, thanks to devices like smartphones. Yes, one can survive without a computer in their pocket (civilization managed just fine before 2007, when the iPhone made its debut) but with so much information and connectivity at our fingertips, Internet-enabled smartphones are as ingrained into our daily lives as food, water and shelter.

See more results from the original survey [here](https://www.thermosoft.com/en-US/blog/luxuries-we-cant-live-without).

​