'Needs' versus 'Wants'

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

In these tough economic times, it seems appropriate to discuss this topic.

What are your (or your family's) 'needs' as opposed to your 'wants'?

 

[Chernabog#1fan]

For my husband and I, our need is a roof over our head. Our want is a very nice house (we live in an apartment). With the way the ecpnomy is, although we can afford a pretty nice house, I think it is better to hold off on purchasing because the prices are still falling. He is not too happy with my decision on that.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I NEED to pay the mortgage, elec bill, water bill, phone bill, trash bill, car note, insurance, gas and put food in the fridge, diapers on the baby and pay the dr. visits....

I WANT to buy my hopper passes now... but will wait til DBF gets a new job

 

[DISUNC]

Needs...Food, shelter, water & TV!
Wants...Everything else.

 

[rentayenta]

In these tough economic times, it seems appropriate to discuss this topic.

What are your (or your family's) 'needs' as opposed to your 'wants'?

We just had this conversation about 2 weeks ago. I need my family to be healthy, secure, and safe.



I want a tummy tuck. The kids want every Wii game and new gadget. DH wants a new 52 inch flat screen because the 42 inch one seems a little small.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

I am loving the responses so far, thanks!

 

[froglady]

Food - I have to keep buying it because we keep eating it, so it's a need.
Shelter- no mortgage, but property taxes MUST be paid, and insurance SHOULD be paid- I consider it a need.
Clothing- Except for my son, who keeps on growing, any new clothing is a want.
Utilities- I consider them a needCar expenses- no payments, but routine maintence is a need. Gas is a need, but driving whenever and wherever is a want. Type of car is a want.
Toiletries, such as deoderant, soap, shampoo, etc- a need, but type is a want.
Washer & dryer- need, as using a laundry is more expensive and time consuming.
Insurance- car, health, life, disability, long term care - I consider these needs.

Cable- want


Everything else is a want.

 

[dislal]

Disney Vacation.......................Need
everything else........................Want

OOPS maybe I have that a little mixed up. Sorry.


I was just talking to my mom today about this and I said I pay my mortgage and electric bill first then everything else follows. So I guess these are my needs.

 

[Free4Life11]

Needs: apartment, electricity, water, food, health/renters insurance, internet, bicycle.

Wants: nicer clothes, a car.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

I never thought about the internet as being a 'need', but I could see it as a need in the sense of it replacing television, news and phone capabilites (if it ever came down to that).

 

[TLSnell1981]

Needs....food, clothing and shelter.

Wants....chauffeur, personal masseur and unlimited $$$ Starbucks gift card.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Food - I have to keep buying it because we keep eating it, so it's a need.
Shelter- no mortgage, but property taxes MUST be paid, and insurance SHOULD be paid- I consider it a need.
Clothing- Except for my son, who keeps on growing, any new clothing is a want.
Utilities- I consider them a needCar expenses- no payments, but routine maintence is a need. Gas is a need, but driving whenever and wherever is a want. Type of car is a want.
Toiletries, such as deoderant, soap, shampoo, etc- a need, but type is a want.
Washer & dryer- need, as using a laundry is more expensive and time consuming.
Insurance- car, health, life, disability, long term care - I consider these needs.

Cable- want


Everything else is a want.

Pretty much sums it up for us too except I'll add in internet access as a NEED since DH can do his job from home with it allowing him not to have to drive to work.

Cell phones are also wants.

 

[Kahana-ri]

Needs: My families safety, water, food, to keep our modest home, heat (NE weather), at least one auto, for both of us to keep our employment and health insurance.

Want: To sell our house and move to CA to be with our family, hoping our jobs transfer gracefully.
IMO – cable, XBOX 360, Sunday newspaper and soda are also wants that we could do without, but DH may beg to differ.

 

[Cool-Beans]

We need food, water and a temperature in which we will not freeze.

Everything else is a want.

Dear old dad always said that stress is "when you're being shelled and you're too drunk to find your foxhole" and a problem is knowing that people are shooting at you. If nobody is trying to kill you, it is a good day, quit yer *****in. Always helps me put things in perspective.

 

[minkydog]

Dear old dad always said that stress is "when you're being shelled and you're too drunk to find your foxhole" and a problem is knowing that people are shooting at you. If nobody is trying to kill you, it is a good day, quit yer *****in. Always helps me put things in perspective.

I like the way your dad thinks. Any day I'm not getting shot at is a good one, in my book

Soooo, I *need* to keep my job because I carry the insurance...but I *want* to work fewer hours so I can be home more and less stressed. I *need* to be more compassionate...but I *want* to pop the next parent who sends their kid to school with fever & vomiting (I'm the school nurse )

I *need* to be patient...but I *want* to hit the road west in my RV with my hubby & my big ole poodle.

 

[disykat]

I actually consider my mortgage a "want." When dh and I first bought a home, we lived in an older home in a neighborhood that wasn't as "nice" that had a one car garage, an older kitchen with no dishwasher, etc. Later, we moved into a house we "wanted," but didn't NEED. Heck, a two bedroom, one bath cottage would meet our "needs." Our house isn't particularly fancy, but as long as there are perfectly good less expensive homes that would meet our needs I still feel it's in the "want" category.

I grew up with a parent who lived through the depression/war years in a large family without much money. The difference between needs and wants was drummed into me from toddlerhood!

 

[Planogirl]

We need our jobs. Let's face it, without them we can't get the other needs or wants. We need food, water, a roof over our heads, perscription medication and air conditioning. In Texas people die without air conditioning. If I want a new job, I pretty much need the Internet. A job search can be done without it but in our area some companies only accept applications by Internet. We need a phone in case of emergency but it could be a home phone or a cell.

Wants would include satellite, video games, dvd's, cd's and so on. We have a couch that is about to collapse but replacing it is a want.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

Aside from the obvious like food and a roof over our heads, my family needs my daughter's asthma meds and electricity to administer her rescue meds with a nebulizer.

Wants are cable TV, high speed internet, eating out, the kids after school activities (although those are a priority over things like eating out), vacations, and new clothes.

Pretty soon winter coats with hats, gloves, and boots will join that Need list.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

What we (my father & I) need are new, better paying jobs that include benefits such as health insurance. I don't have any and currently he only has basic Medicare. We need to have a decent roof over our heads, bills paids, food and basic necessities.

What we both want is all the debts to disappear.

I want to not be allergic to everything under the sun so I don't have to pay $8 for soap. I also want my feet worked on so I don't have to spend $100 - $175 for a pair of shoes.

I also want a new computer to replace this one that's 7 years old and a car.

 

[kirbsam]

needs: 62" plasma tv. i can pretty much live without just about everything else. oh, yeah, peanut butter, too.