Roti, kapda, makaan - food, clothing and shelter - the three things that, since time immemorial, have been impressed upon us as the basic necessities of life. Anything beyond these were considered as 'good-to-haves' or 'wants'.
But as times have changed, so has the definition of necessities or needs. A lot of things that were wants earlier have become needs. And there is often confusion around the classification of things and experiences, that we spend on, between needs and wants.
The key question for me when I choose to spend on an item (whether, gadget, clothing or even an experience) is not whether I really need it but what would I lose for not having or doing it. Am I richer mentally, emotionally by choosing to become financially poorer for it?
I am not a saint so I don't just spend on my needs. In fact, a large percentage of what I spend my money on are wants. But as long as I am conscious of that and aware that should the requirement arise, I can very well go without it, I see no harm. It's not the ego of being able to afford something but the gratitude for it that makes the distinction meaningful.
So instead of listing down the questions that I ask myself when I want to buy something to decide whether I really need it or not, I thought it'd be more fun to put them together in a poem. So here we go!
I set out to discover
The difference between want and need;
Because with changing times
The difference is just a thin line!
Here are some questions I framed,
For that item or experience I think I need;
To help me figure and decide
Whether it's actually a want in disguise!
Why do I need it?
Are the traditional methods archaic?
Are the erstwhile tools so obsolete,
that I absolutely can't do without feeding the need?
Does the need satisfy
A basic requirement for life?
Do I need it only to fuel my happiness,
or even to just survive?
Gadgets and clothes;
The most enticing, the fastest changing;
While the basic varieties may well be a need,
Are the latest models or trends a must indeed?
And most importantly, is the need or want
Worth spending my money on?
Do those financially worse off than me
Also feel this to be a burning need?
Of course there's nothing wrong
In indulging a want;
In fact it's quite the harness
For a nice little burst of happiness!
But I don't want to go around
Believing it's a need;
When the answers to these questions moot
Do not as much prove!
Some examples of needs and wants in today's context -
1. Mobile phone - This has replaced most stand telephones, cordless telephones and cameras even. I hardly know anyone who doesn't own a mobile. It's pertinent to note that traditional telephone devices and old fashioned basic cameras are no longer sold in most places. Does that make a mobile phone a want or a need? In today's context, it is a need. But do we really need the IPhone or is a simple phone that allows us make and receive calls as well as send and receive texts enough? Seems like that is enough? It is! Anything beyond that is likely a want! It's something you only spend on if you can afford it and have the willingness to! Also, if you have one of it, then that can be justified as a need but having more than one is likely a want (unless you're someone who gets a lot of calls or needs to keep calls discreet from one another like a busy professional, celebrity or the prime minister of the country in which case, owning more than one might just become legit!). Same principle applies to most gadgets and technological items such as, for instance, TVs, laptops/computers or flash drives.
2. What about commuting? Is that car or bike a need or a want? Can public transport satisfy your needs or is owning a private vehicle a need? It almost never is a need! Public transport may be cumbersome or it may not have door-to-door connectivity for you but it still serves the purpose of transferring you from one place to the other. You can choose radio cabs that do this even better and you almost don't need your personal vehicle at all unless you travel such long distances everyday that it becomes uneconomical for you in the long run. In owning your vehicle too, you can always choose between two-wheelers and four-wheelers, basic four-wheelers and sports cars or luxury vehicles. It's near impossible to classify this as a need in India. However, if you think of some countries like the USA where the public transit system is not as well connected or because the country is so vast, its way more economical for you to own a car then the question of whether its a need or want should be seen in the context of the geography you are in.
3. Holidays - We all want to go on holidays. But going on a holiday itself is not really a need! Once you decide to go on one, the choice of staying in a lodge or a hostel or a 5-star resort are all based on how much you want to spend. There is no need to go for that spa treatment when on holiday but I want to because it makes the holiday complete for me! It makes me happy but do I need it? Questionable....because a getaway can also be a quick day trip to a nearby park and need not be a week-long (or weekend-long!) vacation!
4. Clothes - We all need clothes. But we all want good clothes! I may want to own the latest fashion but that's very much a good-to-have. One thing to note here again is the context - I need to show up at work everyday in a well-groomed manner so I need some good clothes but whether that need to be a particular expensive brand or anything smart and crisp will do is entirely up to me. And how many of them should I own is also a qood question to ask.
5. Kitchen appliances - Fancy appliances like roti makers, waffle makers, cake moulds, confectionery ovens may be wants (unless you're in the business of making roits or cakes!). But quite honestly, I can't imagine a home kitchen without a pressure cooker, a mixer-grinder, a hand blender or a coconut grater. And I know most people would own one of these! So I would definitely reclassify some of these from wants to needs.
These are some of the things I could think of. What are your thoughts on wants and needs? Let me know in the comments!
*****************
P.S. None of the content on this blog to be reproduced or lifted without permission
But as times have changed, so has the definition of necessities or needs. A lot of things that were wants earlier have become needs. And there is often confusion around the classification of things and experiences, that we spend on, between needs and wants.
The key question for me when I choose to spend on an item (whether, gadget, clothing or even an experience) is not whether I really need it but what would I lose for not having or doing it. Am I richer mentally, emotionally by choosing to become financially poorer for it?
I am not a saint so I don't just spend on my needs. In fact, a large percentage of what I spend my money on are wants. But as long as I am conscious of that and aware that should the requirement arise, I can very well go without it, I see no harm. It's not the ego of being able to afford something but the gratitude for it that makes the distinction meaningful.
So instead of listing down the questions that I ask myself when I want to buy something to decide whether I really need it or not, I thought it'd be more fun to put them together in a poem. So here we go!
I set out to discover
The difference between want and need;
Because with changing times
The difference is just a thin line!
Here are some questions I framed,
For that item or experience I think I need;
To help me figure and decide
Whether it's actually a want in disguise!
Why do I need it?
Are the traditional methods archaic?
Are the erstwhile tools so obsolete,
that I absolutely can't do without feeding the need?
Does the need satisfy
A basic requirement for life?
Do I need it only to fuel my happiness,
or even to just survive?
Gadgets and clothes;
The most enticing, the fastest changing;
While the basic varieties may well be a need,
Are the latest models or trends a must indeed?
And most importantly, is the need or want
Worth spending my money on?
Do those financially worse off than me
Also feel this to be a burning need?
Of course there's nothing wrong
In indulging a want;
In fact it's quite the harness
For a nice little burst of happiness!
But I don't want to go around
Believing it's a need;
When the answers to these questions moot
Do not as much prove!
Some examples of needs and wants in today's context -
1. Mobile phone - This has replaced most stand telephones, cordless telephones and cameras even. I hardly know anyone who doesn't own a mobile. It's pertinent to note that traditional telephone devices and old fashioned basic cameras are no longer sold in most places. Does that make a mobile phone a want or a need? In today's context, it is a need. But do we really need the IPhone or is a simple phone that allows us make and receive calls as well as send and receive texts enough? Seems like that is enough? It is! Anything beyond that is likely a want! It's something you only spend on if you can afford it and have the willingness to! Also, if you have one of it, then that can be justified as a need but having more than one is likely a want (unless you're someone who gets a lot of calls or needs to keep calls discreet from one another like a busy professional, celebrity or the prime minister of the country in which case, owning more than one might just become legit!). Same principle applies to most gadgets and technological items such as, for instance, TVs, laptops/computers or flash drives.
2. What about commuting? Is that car or bike a need or a want? Can public transport satisfy your needs or is owning a private vehicle a need? It almost never is a need! Public transport may be cumbersome or it may not have door-to-door connectivity for you but it still serves the purpose of transferring you from one place to the other. You can choose radio cabs that do this even better and you almost don't need your personal vehicle at all unless you travel such long distances everyday that it becomes uneconomical for you in the long run. In owning your vehicle too, you can always choose between two-wheelers and four-wheelers, basic four-wheelers and sports cars or luxury vehicles. It's near impossible to classify this as a need in India. However, if you think of some countries like the USA where the public transit system is not as well connected or because the country is so vast, its way more economical for you to own a car then the question of whether its a need or want should be seen in the context of the geography you are in.
3. Holidays - We all want to go on holidays. But going on a holiday itself is not really a need! Once you decide to go on one, the choice of staying in a lodge or a hostel or a 5-star resort are all based on how much you want to spend. There is no need to go for that spa treatment when on holiday but I want to because it makes the holiday complete for me! It makes me happy but do I need it? Questionable....because a getaway can also be a quick day trip to a nearby park and need not be a week-long (or weekend-long!) vacation!
4. Clothes - We all need clothes. But we all want good clothes! I may want to own the latest fashion but that's very much a good-to-have. One thing to note here again is the context - I need to show up at work everyday in a well-groomed manner so I need some good clothes but whether that need to be a particular expensive brand or anything smart and crisp will do is entirely up to me. And how many of them should I own is also a qood question to ask.
5. Kitchen appliances - Fancy appliances like roti makers, waffle makers, cake moulds, confectionery ovens may be wants (unless you're in the business of making roits or cakes!). But quite honestly, I can't imagine a home kitchen without a pressure cooker, a mixer-grinder, a hand blender or a coconut grater. And I know most people would own one of these! So I would definitely reclassify some of these from wants to needs.
These are some of the things I could think of. What are your thoughts on wants and needs? Let me know in the comments!
*****************
P.S. None of the content on this blog to be reproduced or lifted without permission
Good topic. It's very difficult to classify Need Vs Want. A particular necessity for me can be classified as 'Want' or rather 'Luxury' by the other person and vice versa.
ReplyDeleteHence, it is very important to be ,'Content' in life. And only contentment can bring Happiness and Peace.
So true, mom! In fact you've given me something to think about - I never addressed contentment in my post or the fact that a need for one may be a want for another. I'll definitely blogging more about this soon :)
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