Need It or Want It?

Are you trying to live on a budget?  Do you have too much credit card debt?  Too many Americans are drowning in debt, and yet are still lured to buy more stuff that they don't need and can't really afford.  The temptations and pressure to buy "stuff" are everywhere in our society.  

Here's the fact:
Our needs are very simple to define:
 food, clothing, shelter
There are more on this list according to Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, if you're a sociology-minded person. But I'm a simple gal, and I'm going to keep this short.

If you want to break out of the cycle of spending money you don't have on things you don't need, here are a few questions to ask yourself before you buy any luxury item.

1.  Do I need it or do I want it?
2.  Do I already have something like this?
3.  Can I wait a few days before I buy this and think it over?
4.  Do I have the money to buy this?

I'm not against enjoying nice things, I've got plenty.  But they don't control me.  "It's just stuff" is one of my favorite sayings.  The important things in life are the things I'll take to heaven, not what's in my closet.

I've learned over the years, with some help from my gentle questioning husband, to separate needs from wants, to not jump on band-wagon trends, and to wait on major purchases. And if I am unwilling to wait before buying an item, that says something about my heart that isn't good.

Of course I've given in to pressure-impulse buys and regretted wasting our hard-earned dollars.  But I'm learning to live in contentment and thankfulness, not by any other standard.

I will add one more question to our list:

5. How much does it cost?

Notice that it doesn't matter how much I saved.  For some reason the word "SALE" has a magical, spell-casting power over some of us.  It can make us forget common sense and plunge into spending money just because "It's on sale!" But what have I really "saved" if I spent money on items I didn't need or really want in the first place?? 

This is a good lesson for children to learn early on.  We told our boys regularly when they were little, "You will always have all that you need, and some of what you want."  I was not afraid to be the "only parent" that didn't buy certain things.  Your kids need you to teach them how to live sensibly and make tough decisions.  This is one way to do it!

So if your answers to these questions make you realize that you need to pass up that "incredible deal," see if you can walk away.  And don't forget to pat yourself on the back!