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Understanding Need versus
Want |
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by Wendy Lomano 2004
While there is a great deal of information
stay-at-home parents and frugal-living folks need to know,
there is one major approach to life to which we all should abide.
In order to support a two-parent (and children) family on one
income, the most important thing you need to understand is
NEED vs. WANT. If you do not understand this concept, you will
not succeed in living on one income.
When you consider taking any decision at all regarding spending
your money, you need to assess whether it is something you
need to have to survive, or if it is something that is appealing
to your emotions — something you want — but that is not necessary
for your survival on this Earth.
Ask yourself:
1. Can I live without it?
2. Will the world stop going around if I do not have it?
3. Will it make a big difference in my life if I do have it?
4. Will my life end if I go without this item?
5. Can I find it elsewhere for less money?
6. Can I find it on sale or clearance or used?
To get a good idea of just how little is necessary to survive
I'd suggest reading the Little House books by Laura Ingalls
Wilder. Sure, we don't live in the same "world" as
she did growing up, but I guarantee the books will make you
think about everything you spend your money on!
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Very often, if you decide to wait on a purchase,
you'll find you didn't really need it... or want it... at all!
Studies have shown that the more advertising a person is exposed
to, the more they buy and consume. What does this mean to you?
The more television you watch, the more magazines you subscribe
to or read, the more money you will spend on things you want
but don't really need.
For example, if you watch television shows that profile their
characters as well-dressed and successful, beautiful, popular;
always wearing the most up-to-date style of clothing, the message
is this: if you wear this style of clothing and have your hair
cut like this, you, too, will be successful, popular and good-looking.
Chances are, the next time you go to the mall, you'll be more
apt to purchase items like you've seen on television or in
the movies — items that won't be in style for very long and
will need to be replaced next year because they are no longer
trendy.
If you watch television or read magazines, you just might start
to think the only kinds of food available are expensive, chemical-filled
convenience foods; and when you start becoming used to seeing
them in ads, you may end up purchasing more and more of them
as well — and your budget will show this expense.
Our society promotes concepts and ideals that don't fit well
with a one-income family; our society tells you to satisfy
all your wants and desires, and your children's too! What kind
of a parent are you not to give your child all he wants?! Shame
on you!
Not quite. Shame on you if you do give your child all he wants
and desires. That's not what life is about and you should know
that. The disciples of Jesus dropped everything, gave away
all their worldly possessions, as He instructed. I'm not telling
you not to live comfortably, but think about it: When you give
a child all he wants — every Bionicle, every Lego set, every
DVD he sees, all the money he asks for when he wants to go
to the mall — you are not teaching him to be self-sufficient
or money-wise. You're teaching him to depend on you for all
his wants (as well as his needs) and he will never, ever, be
financially independent (and if he seems to be, chances are
he'll be in debt up to his ears). You'll be in debt too, most
likely.
Our NEEDS are relatively few, even from birth. We don't need a
lot of stuff, toys, gadgets, etc. We need shelter from the elements,
clothing, food, love and understanding. We need friends and family
around us. We need spiritual upbringing and we need an understanding
of God's law (upon which most laws of our country are based). Everything
else is just baggage.
We don't need fancy pictures on the walls, although decoration
is comforting. We don't need expensive clothing -- function should
precede style. We don't need expensive gadgets that are supposed
to make our lives easier, but which really only complicate things
(cell phones and pagers, PDAs, call waiting). We don't need television,
which often only pollutes our children's minds and inoculates us
to the commercialism and hedonism of the general secular society.
Think about what you truly need and what in your life just creates
clutter.
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| Wendy Lomano is mostly an at-home mom to her
two boys and wife to her husband. She maintains The Stay-At-Home Parents Page
(www.athomeparent.com), is a contractual drawing
instructor, editor and free-lance web designer as well. |
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout
the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for
the offering of goods or services requires the prior written
consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All
rights reserved.
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PHILIPPIANS
4:19
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"And my God will meet all your needs according to
his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
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(NIV)
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