What is one of the most embarrassing traits that describes the average American? Before the answer is revealed, here are some things that might give you hints. The first is food. Americans' love of eating out and then discarding leftovers to make room for new items is astonishing. Food scraps are thrown away like dead worms, ending up in the treads of a car or in a shoe, or washed away in the rain. The second is money. This resource is the only thing that can bring the country to its knees, let alone the average American. The tendency of Americans to spend money on useless things, or to gamble their money in hopes of winning more is what can define many average Americans. The third is excessive use of energy. From the misuse of natural energy to the lack of efficiency in the energy cycle, Americans greatly underestimate the importance of energy. Finally there is poor time management. Time is arguably one of the most precious (if not the most precious) resources known to man, yet Americans seem to have mastered the skill known as “wasting time.” Has the answer revealed itself yet? Yes, there it is, in the last sentence. The answer is waste, if you haven't figured it out yet. Americans are among the most wasteful people in the world. By discarding everything from food to money to time, Americans not only waste their own, but sometimes other people's as well. America is a very voracious country. On an annual basis, the average American may consume a grand total of 1 ton (or 2,000 pounds) of food. However, the real problem comes before and after the meal. In total, America loses 40% of the food it produces, from fields to landfills. This shows that in 1 ton of food, 800 pounds are lost, both in waste... middle of paper... In English, it is the love of material things. This “love of material things” causes most people to spend money carelessly, always buying things that they believe will make them “happy.” In a study conducted by 24/7 Wall Street, there are 10 things the "average" American family spends nearly 15% of its annual income on. These ten items are, in order from highest to lowest (in number, not in price):(10) “Apparel products and services”(5) “Lodging, vacation homes and hotels”;(9) “Tobacco "(4) "Pets, toys, hobbies and playground equipment";(8) "Non-essential entertainment equipment and services"(3) "Television, radio and audio equipment";(7) "Alcohol";( 2) "Gifts"; and(6) “Taxes and entrance fees”;(1) “Food away from home”. These ten categories are what Wall Street says 24/7, they are the things the "average" American spends his money on the most..