Need not Want.

HI all, this is a great ethic.

I am going to subscribe if thats ok. I need to reenforce my good behaviours instead of periodically falling off the wagon!

Well I just read an article about how they measure deprivation, and though you might appreciate this; going through the entire list of things they use to measure poverty levels, I was thinking to myself 'is that a need or a want?'

The list included taking a 1 week holiday once a year, whether you're able to afford a car, a TV, or telephone. I think a few of those would be wants, instead of needs.

I did need to buy some throat sweets today, as I have a chest infection taking hold. I'd like to nip it in the bud if I can just now...

QUOTE=365days;58612827]Sorry been missing in action - Following Ofsted I have had some other dramams to contend with. Mum got rushed to hospital, admitted and operated on, all recovering well. Then, while I was away, someone decided to kill their partner in our street !! We have come back to a crime scene.........

Petrol costs through the roof this month so far, and phone too (brother lives in States) Also had a takeaway while away and hospital parking charges. So eye off the ball hugely, but one of those things. Will need to travel again soon. Has highlighted to me that I need an emergency fund to deal with these things that 'crop up

Have two extra days at work this week, which I hope I can do, but all dependant on if i need to go back to Mum's or not.

Need to re focus!![/QUOTE]


365days - sorry to hear about your mum & hope things are improving?! I agree that we need to be honest about our spending so here goes......... Past few days going great guns, with NSD on Sun, Mon & Tues Then got the email about the Boots 75% off sale!!! I'm good, but I'm not that good Spent £18 but got 7 Sanctuary gift sets, which will do nicely for birthdays, teachers end of term pressies etc. Luckily alot of things had sold out, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to resist. Some mega bargains on here! Talking of things I can't resist, I have quite a long list - clothes, shoes, bags, smellies, face creams, ear-rings!!! These are all my weak spots! Need a firm resolve

I needed to go and buy some food tonight, the fridge was empty, no veg left. I suppose I could have put it off for a few more days, and just ate what I have in the cupboards and freezer, but I crave fresh fruit and veg, so I had to go. Got a good haul, four bags, loads of food for £6.86, nearly all yellow stickers. :j
Ilona

minicooper272 wrote: »

Well I just read an article about how they measure deprivation, and though you might appreciate this; going through the entire list of things they use to measure poverty levels, I was thinking to myself 'is that a need or a want?'

The list included taking a 1 week holiday once a year, whether you're able to afford a car, a TV, or telephone. I think a few of those would be wants, instead of needs.

I did need to buy some throat sweets today, as I have a chest infection taking hold. I'd like to nip it in the bud if I can just now...

This is so true. Most people have no concept of what true proverty and hardship are all about. I had a small taste of it (nothing like that endured routinely in the likes of Asia and India), but it made me realise that our lives are far too comfortable. We have heat on tap, we dont even have to chop the wood. We have water, we dont have to go get it, let alone purify it. We have more food in our houses than most people in the developing world could dream of.

I've really started looking at our lives over the last few years. That big TV, nice, but not necessary for life. That shiney new car, is it really necessary, or is the one you have just fine? Coffee maker? Seriously?

We go to Boots (mea culpa) and we end up spending £40 on smelly gel which we quite literally wash down the drain. A bar of soap is 40p and does the same job, probably lasts longer too. Somehow, it all 'seems' necessary at the time, but is it? I dont believe so. We've been conditioned by repeated adverts to buy buy buy stuff and somewhere along the line, it almost became automatic to most of us.

Of course, we know why and its becomming increasingly obvious to most. While we dig ourselves even further into personal debt, the banks can leverage the debt 9 times to literally manufacture money out of thin air. The problem is, as with any giant ponzi scam, it all comes apart sooner or later. We're already beginning to see the money roundabout slowing with the credit crunch. This year, for the first time in a very long time, more money was paid back than borrowed from the banks and it is quite frightening. With the money paid back, and the debt discharged, the banks have less to leverage which will ultimately lead to a sharp correction in everyone's living standards. It wont be quick, more gradual than that, but slowly, it is becomming more obvious to even the common man what is happening and where this is going.

The few like us who have realised this, have made a committment to get rid of their debts and live for need rather than want, will be the best placed to handle this sharp correction because we'll be used to it. If the masses believe life without a TV is unthinkable, imagine how much of a head start we have just by realising that a bar of soap is the essential instead.