What's your difference between need and want?

pinkshoes

I can honestly say that I rarely buy anything that I don't use, and thus potentially "needed".

"Need" comes down to your financial budget. If you can afford it, it changes from a "want" to a "need". I would never get myself in debt for anything I genuinely didn't "need".

balletshoes

pinkshoes wrote: »

I can honestly say that I rarely buy anything that I don't use, and thus potentially "needed".

"Need" comes down to your financial budget. If you can afford it, it changes from a "want" to a "need". I would never get myself in debt for anything I genuinely didn't "need".

I disagree - I can afford to go, and do go, on holiday at least once a year. In no way is that a "need" for me, its a want. I accept for some people a proper away holiday is a need (ie if you have a very stressful home/work life) but I don't, so a holiday is definitely a want for me .

Its the same with clothes, luxury toiletries etc - I need enough of those things to cover me and keep me shod. I need enough of those things to keep me clean. But I don't need all the clothes I have (and my DD definitely doesn't ) so a lot of our clothes etc are wants, not needs, and if I buy a particular brand of toiletry because I like the smell/colour/texture better than a basic brand which is cheaper, then thats not a need either, its a want.

gonzo127

difference between need vs want

anything I am after is a want.

anything my wife is after is a need.

anything the kids are after is a need that bad that if i dont buy it i dont love them.

end result is i still want things, my wife is deprived and the kids are not loved, oh well, we still have a roof over our heads, food on the table, and clothes on our backs so i am happy

Lunar_Eclipse

Goldiegirl wrote: »

I think TV is needed as a source of information and entertainment. It's also got to the point where the internet is needed for information, entertainment, social interaction and to manage my life, e.g internet banking, bill payment etc.

Afterthought, my Kindle is a need, I couldn't survive without reading

These are all wants, despite the fact you think you *need* them.

Lunar_Eclipse

VestanPance wrote: »

There is very little in life you need. All you need is what sustains you food, water, shelter, basic clothing. Anything else is a want no matter how you much you think you need it.

Agree with this and also what OrkneyStar said.

I need food, but chocolate is definitely a want.

I am amazed at how many things people think they 'need' (in real life, I'm not referring to comments on this thread.) Why not just be honest? As someone else said, the economy is driven by wants and materialism is a social norm these days, so there's really no need for the deception.

mrs_T

Lovelyjoolz wrote: »

I also found out last night ( by watching QI ) that Halitosis was invented by Listerine to sell us mouthwash!!

Can you believe that? There was no such thing as Halitosis until Listerine made a mouthwash and had to create a need for it. Shocking! And we fell for it!!!! <facepalm>

Have you met my teenage son? And I don't want to live with him without deodorant either.

Here is the answer by the way: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs