What do you consider a necessity?

[angierae]

I think what we all need to take away from this conversation is that "neccesities" are not the same for everyone. It depends on your situation. Do you live and work in a city with good public transportation? Then a car is probably a luxury.

My husband is a sportswriter based out of a home office. We HAVE to have cable, because he needs to be able to get ESPN and the Fox sports channels, etc. We have to have internet because one of his jobs is to update and maintain articles on a major sports website. He has to have a laptop to take to sporting events, and he has to have a smart phone to be able to email things back and forth as well as be able to look up something quickly during an interview or press conference while he's formulating questions.

I also have a laptop and a smartphone. And for me, those things are luxuries. So right in my own house we have people with different needs.

 

[nunzia]

MY neccesities (what I feel I would need to have in my life if I was on my own without DH salary) is: Shelter (I would probably sell the house and go for an apartment because I don't want to be a burden and have no skill or interest in climbing on the roof, maintaining the yard, etc), Food (I eat small and I don't need to eat out) Internet( for ME very important and need one for extra income producing) Satellite TV (sorry to admit it but I love having my channels for entertainment and background noise) My JOB (need that paycheck and healthcare), my car (really..you CAN do without a car, but I would find a way to have one running) a home phone for security and my TracFone for being away from home (which is what we already have)That is pretty much it..I don't really count clothes since I already get most of them from thrift shoes..sometimes even shoes..so what..you buy undies at Walmart once in awhile and there you go. That's about it for me.

 

[Sorsha]

What are necessities? Food, shelter (including electricity, phone, water, etc), clothing (basic, suitable for the season, etc), healthcare (and as one of the many in this country currently uninsured due to "pre-existing conditions", OOP is possible, although not pleasant), a decently-running car (I live in a rural area with NO public transportation), and safe public education for my children.

Now, are the following necessities?? Cell phone? Some sort of basic entertainment services (Netflix, cable/satellite, internet, etc)? A trip out to a local art festival or the farmer's market or a concert or a museum once in a while? A weekend away from home with my family? Nope, I suppose they aren't... or maybe they are. Because, IMHO, a life stripped down to the bare-bones necessities, devoid of all pleasures, isn't a life worth living. I could give these things up for a VERY short period of time, a very short emergency-caused necessary belt-tightening; but not for very long. I would have to find a way to continue my standard of living.

I would feel that I owed it to myself and my family.

 

[StitchBuddy]

For me I think I need the following:
Modest 2-3 bedroom home
food
clothing
dependable car
health insurance

Almost a need:
Cell phone,
internet (husband is a programmer, he works from home, but could get a job in an office)
tv for entertainment

Wants not Needs
a large house with all the bells and whistles
laptop computer
vacations
nice upper-end suv

 

[dntd]

basic needs-
Food
housing
clothes
van
insurance

like to haves
cell phone
internet
nexflix

vacations are not even on the list...

 

[indimom]

the internet thread got me thinking. Seems like theres a huge gap between what people consider "necessities", definitely a timely issue since it seems if the U.S. defaults there will have to be some one deciding what "has" to be paid.

So for me, my definition is really simple. If not having the item would seriously be detrimental to my and my family's health and well being thats a necessity.

Food=yes
clothing=yes
shelter=yes
health care=yes.
Car=maybe. when I lived in ny, I was happy without one.

cell phone=no
internet=no
disney vacations=no.


So what's your bare bones necessities. If my kids did not have a computer I would still expect them to get good grades.

My list would be very similar to yours. Where we live right now, we could "get by" without a car, but it would not be ideal. We can do without a phone/internet/vacations (and have from time to time).

Food = yes is it is a well balanced meal, safe food and clean drinking water; no to eating out, organic all beverages other than milk for a young child and foods that are costly (lobster, steak, brie cheese, etc.).

Clothing = yes it it keep me warm in the winter, is needed for my job, keeps me cool in the summer and is not expenseive; no = to designer clothing, extensive amounts of clothing (5- pairs of shoes) and getting a new wardrobe each year.

Shelter = yes to a safe and secure basic home; no = to large homes that have more room than is needed.

health care = yes to basic health care (infections, broken bones and the like); no to plastic surgery, cancer treatments that only extend your life for a short time or are considered experimental.

Car = yes if the car is a basic car that is used to get to and from work, grocery stores and doctors. ; no = if the car is loaded and not needed to get around.

Cell phone = yes if it is needed for your job and only what is needed; no to everything else.

Internet = yes to basic access because you can work with it and search for a job; no = to high speed internet to watch vidoes or play games.

Cable = yes to basic cable, as it is cheap entertainment; no to anything else.

Vacation = yes one needs time off from work; no to going some place and not airline tickets.

I know you were talking about experimental life-extending cancer treatments, but it made me think about how subjective our personal opinions/experiences are. Like you, I used to think experimental treatments would be low on my priority list.

But, our 14yo daughter is now getting an off-label cancer treatment in an attempt to halt a disease that is taking her vision. When we discussed it with her doctor, it didn't even cross my mind to think of it as anything less than absolutely necessary. Your comment just brought this to mind and made me realize how quickly my priorities changed.

While necessities keep you alive in body, there is much more to life that may not be a 'need' but I would not want a life without it. Food, water, and shelter are certainly necessities for your body to live but without family, friends, and people to love, it is not a life I would want. And I would not want to just eat, drink, and sit in my shelter with my loved ones, there are other things that enrich my life that I would not want to do without. The ability to be a productive member of society, help others, and definitely to travel the world and meet new people and cultures.

Disney vacations may not be a necessity but spending time with my loved ones (outside of our shelter ) IS needed. Interacting with different people and traveling ARE a necessity to a well-rounded life.

Sure, you can live on food & water and just sit like a lump under a roof...but why wouldn't you do anything else?

I get what you are saying, but there is a LOT more you can do than just sit in your shelter, people did it for centuries. Music, Games, Books...
I agree I would never want this type of lifestyle for a long period of time and would do my very best to work my way out of it. But, I have lived very simply in the past and could again if necessity required...it's really not THAT bad.

Many experimental treatments are not covered by insurance. I know a women who had experimental treatment over 25 years ago that she paid $3K/treatment for and she did 4 months later. Insurance would not cover it. She and her husband were very wealthy so they could afford the payments. The results for her ended up being the same and she was sick from the treatment 3 out of 4 weeks (week 4 she did not get the treatment).

In reality we are not doing any better today than in the 1970s at curing cancer but we are doing way better at early detection that can catch the cancer before it does much damage. This was the case with my cancer. If it comes back, it will come back with a vengence and most likely take my life.

Early detection is far more important than costly experimental treatments when the cancer is ravaging ones body.

Yes, but keep in mind that what they learn from these experiments may help others. My daughter has a chance at keeping her vision thanks to a cancer drug that once had to go through those same experimental trials. It is used routinely to treat various cancers now. And, it is also being used to treat macular degeneration and off-label to treat my daughter's condition. These experimental treatments are not all wasted effort.

Many don't now this but manu chemos destroy your heart valves and then you need more surgery to fix them by using artificial heart valves.

I suppose we could get by with "less" medical treatment options, but I am glad that (at this point) we haven't had to.

 

[momof1princess]

let's see, in my world, necessities are:

1. food
2. shelter (including electricity, water and trash pickup)
3. clothing
4. car (we live in the middle of nowhere and it takes almost 15 minutes to get to even the outskirts of town)
5. cell phones (we drive older cars and it's DH's only way to reach me, and vice versa, when he's at work)
6. health care

nice-to-haves
1. internet
2. netflix
3. directv

we rarely eat out, our time with friends is spent mostly chatting over an inexpensive meal to which we all contribute, and we go to the movies maybe 2-3 times a year, thanks to netflix.

 

[eliza61]

I'm totally guessing, but based on how I interpreted what OP said in comment #1, maybe OP meant those are what he or she considered necessities in his or her life??

Obviously, if one works from home and uses the interenet to complete his or her job, that would be a necessity.
If one lives in a very rural area (that'd be me!) a vehicle would be a necessity.
etc.




....And, on a funny, not serious, meant-to-lighten-the-thread note, a trip to Disney is a necessity to some people!! Lol!! Just kidding, please don't take offense!

Op here,
No offense at all. and you're right. I was asking for each individuals perception. there is no wrong or right answer.

 

[Planogirl]

My necessities are:

Shelter
Food
Water
A/C (especially after this summer)
Light source
Clothing
Transportation
Medication
Phone (for emergencies)
Books (I know, not really a necessity but I can't imagine not learning any more.)

 

[Bungle]

For me personally my necessities are:
Shelter
Food
Water
Phone
Internet
Education
Healthcare
Seeds
Vacation. Yeah I'll put it on there. For the last two I really believe that gardening and getting away together occasionally (even if its camping) helps keeps life's stress to a minimum and I think that is a really important part of taking care of your health.

Luxuries I have but would be the first to go are:
Netflix
Cable
Gym and waterpark memebership
Pricier meals (less steak more hamburger for example)
Car

 

[Tinkerdreams]

Okay, so by your definition, the following are 'luxuries' I don't think 99% of the people in the USA are going to classify these as luxuries:

Electricity
Running Water
Sewage System
Public Education System


For my family, internet IS a necessity. My Husband works at home as a computer system designer and without Skype, the internet, teleconferencing etc, he wouldn't have a job.

In this day and age, what you describe above falls under shelter but keep in mind that for thousands of years, people did not have these things and survived. I'm not saying that it's the ideal but they did get by without these. As for Public education, this would be considered a necessity but I believe this also needs a revamp.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Okay, so by your definition, the following are 'luxuries' I don't think 99% of the people in the USA are going to classify these as luxuries:

Electricity
Running Water
Sewage System
Public Education System


For my family, internet IS a necessity. My Husband works at home as a computer system designer and without Skype, the internet, teleconferencing etc, he wouldn't have a job.

I agree with a PP...the first three are part of shelter. At least in most budgeting books that I have seen, they are. In fact, you would pay those items before rent. (ETA: only because you have more legal protections when you are behind in rent and without utilities, you would be living in yucky conditions.)

 

[fortwildernessishome]

This seems really subjective. We have had multiple family members fighting cancer. What is a short time? A year? Five years? Ten years? If it is your family member having more time is priceless, especially if the time is high quality.

Totally agree, where there is treatment, there is hope!!! More time is PRICELESS!!!!!

 

[fortwildernessishome]

And the bolded caught my eye. I guess technically experimental treatments are not a necessity, but how many of those experimental treatments lead to new, improved treatments? They have to try them out somehow, and I think if it were a family member, I might be tempted to call it a necessity.

Without a doubt it is a necessity for me!!

 

[Acklander]

Another thing that is a necessity is a job. The question is - how many of us would have a job if everyone only lived with only the necessities of food,clothing, shelter, and basic healthcare?

 

[C.Ann]

the internet thread got me thinking. Seems like theres a huge gap between what people consider "necessities", definitely a timely issue since it seems if the U.S. defaults there will have to be some one deciding what "has" to be paid.

So for me, my definition is really simple. If not having the item would seriously be detrimental to my and my family's health and well being thats a necessity.

Food=yes
clothing=yes
shelter=yes
health care=yes.
Car=maybe. when I lived in ny, I was happy without one.

cell phone=no
internet=no
disney vacations=no.


So what's your bare bones necessities. If my kids did not have a computer I would still expect them to get good grades.

Pretty much the same as yours - but with a few variations because I live in two different places throughout the course of a year..

So - at the lake - where I spend the largest portion of the year:

Food
Clothing
Shelter - including heat and electric
Landline phone for emergencies only
Health insurance
Homeowners insurance
School & property taxes
Car, gas, and car insurance - only for emergencies/necessities - because the area is isolated and there is literally no other form of transportation.
Internet - because it's the only way I can take care of my finances up here.

-----------------

At DD's during the coldest of the winter months - and if I sold my home here at the lake and no longer lived here for the largest portion of the year:

Food
Clothing
Health insurance
And contributing to their mortgage; heat/electric; landline phone; and whatever else was needed..

Car wouldn't be necessary because someone is always around or there are cabs and possibly a bus route somewhere.
Internet wouldn't be necessary if I had another means of getting to the banks.


-----------------------

Of course even though I live with them part of the year, what I bills I have to pay for year-round remain the same - whether I'm here at the lake OR down there:

Food
Clothing
Shelter
Electric
School & land taxes
Beach rights
Homeowner's insurance
Car & gas
Car insurance
Health insurance
Cable/Internet
Telephone

So I still have the same expenses - no matter where I am.. There's just an adjustment in the amounts I'm paying based on useage for 3 of those bills(electric; phone; cable/internet).. Contrary to what many people think, there's no "free ride" when I'm back at DD's - LOL.. Still have the same old bills to pay - just like everyone else..

 

[Colleen27]

I think it depends on the situation. Food, clothing, and shelter are non-negotiable and universal, but other things are more of a grey area. For example: with DH doing the work he does now a cell phone is necessary unless he wants to lose income and therefore not be able to supply the above-mentioned absolutely-necessaries; if he were unable to work, however, it wouldn't be a necessity any longer. Likewise, his truck is necessary. We could get by without my minivan (though it wouldn't be ideal because it would mean no going anywhere that requires driving - which is nearly everywhere in rural Michigan - as a family because the work truck is a 2-seater) but there's no way he could get himself and all the required tools and materials to job sites without his vehicle.

 

[drcmk]

The government needs to go about running this country the same way. Separate the necessities with the "nice to have's". They don't get that - they are working for the lobbyists (sp?) and "big interest". They've lost sight of the fact that they are working for US!!

Well, I pay a lot of taxes--and I don't complain or begrudge my fair share because I NEED the government to provide so many things. No one in my household has ever received Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment, Food Stamps or education grants, but I still depend on the government for so many functions, like:

Safe roads and bridges
Emergency personnel that respond when I call 9-1-1
Regulation of drug industry so that I know medication I give my family is safe
Regulation of food industry so I know that food I give my family is not contaminated
Court system so I have recourse if a business cheats me
Clean water
Armed forces
Licensure of professionals like doctors, cosmetologists, dentists, so I know that the person who is caring for me is qualified

That is just off the top of my head. I just don't understand what the "extras" are that people are so keen for the government to cut. I need it all.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

I haven't read everyone's answers and no doubt this one will be out of the ordinary but the only 2 necessities for me are DH and DD - everything else is gravy.

I feel so fortunate that we have a house we can afford, a car, great friends etc and after years of living paycheck to paycheck we now live debt free. But if it all came crashing down ... as long as I had those 2 (DD and DH) everything would be OK.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

deleted - duplicate post.