UPDATED 03/15/2025
Have you ever really thought about your wants vs needs? We’ve all said “I want that!” at some point in our life. And in many cases, the things we want are usually material goods. After doing a lot of soul searching and research, I’ve realized that it’s human nature to want things. Often times, we want things we don’t necessarily need to survive, though. Here are a few examples I’ve had:
WANTS vs. Needs
I really want to go on that vacation to St. Lucia.
All I really want right now is a new handbag.
Every Friday I want to try a new restaurant.
Travel is too expensive so I need to do a staycation.
Bills are a priority so that new handbag will need to wait.
Eating at home works since I don’t need to spend money.
If you read those statements and understand them clearly, you can tell the difference between a want and a need. Your wants and needs may look different than mine, but the principle is the same. You have to decide if you need something or just want it. Before I give you my 3 tips to help you make the decision, here are the definitions of each word:
Want: /wänt,wônt/ | have a desire to possess or do (something); wish for.
Need: /nēd/ | require (something) because it is essential or very important.
Now wants vs. needs should be pretty clear. A want is something is you desire to have or do. While a need is something you have to do in order to survive. Only you can decide what the difference is between your wants and your needs. But if you’re struggling, here is some advice to help you decide.
TIP # 1: Ask yourself if the thing you want will keep a roof over your head, keep the electricity on, clothe your body, or feed you. If the answer is no, then the thing you want might be something that you don’t need right now. Your needs should always come first and that involves your shelter, utilities, clothing, and food. Just one caveat about the clothing, you don’t need a new dress just because you see it on the hanger, it fits perfectly, and you might wear it someday. Clothing needs to keep you warm (or cool) and help you show off your personality, but it does not need to be extravagant. And if you really need to shop for clothing, check out ThredUp. It’s my go-to place for great clothing at a discount.
TIP # 2: When you’re going shopping, make a list of your needs. Whether it’s grocery shopping or gift shopping. Get it out of your head and on paper. Put on the list food you’ll need for meals that week or the gift list you’ll need to get for the birthday party that’s coming up. At at Christmas time, make a list of all the people you need to shop for. Doing this will help you avoid the inkling to add things to your cart as you shop.
TIP # 3: Remember your why. I saved this for last because it is probably THE MOST important tip. Your why is what drives you in life. It’s what fuels you to keep going every single day. If your why is to take a trip around the world, you know you need to save big time. If your why is to be able to dance at your son’s wedding, then you know you need to eat healthy and move your body every day for 20-30 minutes. Only you can determine your why. If you don’t know what it is right now, sit by yourself, write in your journal, and think about the things that make you happy because doing this will help you find it.
Do you have a better idea of your wants vs. your needs? What about your needs? Starting today, take into consideration these tips every time you have a decision to make. These tips will help you make smart decisions and allow you to live your life in a content, but happy way.
