Want to Need
Posted by mmetz on February 22nd, 2010
I need to have food to eat.
I need to have clean drinking water.
I need to provide for my family.
I need to get a touch phone.
I need a bigger television.
I need to have warm clothing in the winter.
I need shoes to protect my feet.
Some of these things are not like the others…
All of these are common needs, yet some of them seem out of place. A lot of people confuse a “need” with a “want” and this unfortunately ends up costing them in the short and long run. To survive a person needs only a few basic things: food, water, oxygen, shelter, and clothing, but the problem is when people tack on extras to basic necessities and start paying more than what they have to.
You need to eat, but you don’t need to go out to eat. Eating out at a restaurant is a bigger expense than people realize, not only are you paying for the overpriced food, you get stuck with tax and tip. Take the extra time to head to the grocery store and use the money you were going to eat out with and buy food for the next few days, instead of one meal.
Buying clothes is an expensive of a task as you make it. Especially in the wintertime, you have to have functional clothing that protects your body. This does not mean that you have to go out and buy brand name clothes for premium prices every other day. Check out your local thrift store if you need a new jacket, a lot of these places have warm clothes cheap, stylish, and looking brand new.
If you find yourself saying you need to get this television or video game system, most likely you don’t. Entertainment items should never be in a need category, they are always a want. Take a look at your finances, research the item, and save up over time. If you then decide it’s something you are ready to purchase, go ahead and indulge in your wants.
How do you distinguish your needs from wants?
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