What are the things you considered as necessities?
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
Singapore
October 3, 2011 9:10am CST
We all heard of the word need and want.
Many financial experts told us that we must know what is our need, and what is our want.
It sounds simple in theory.
We all classify food as need, but within this category of food, there are many items that fall into wants, and not needs.
For example, we may classify coffee as our need. However, people can survive without coffee.
It is actually a want, not need.
So, what are the things you seriously considered as necessities?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
3 Oct 11
Hi Kalav, you have covered all the broad categories.
Actually I was thinking about toilet rolls when I started this thread.
It is amazing how fast toilet roll runs out.
The problem is that paper products, including toilet rolls, are getting very expensive.
If this goes on, sooner or later we have to use leaves!
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
4 Oct 11
Yes, there are a number of things one can classify as necessities. I certainly agree with the items fellow-myLotters have listed. The one item which I would emphasize on is water. That is an absolute basic necessity.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
5 Oct 11
Hi Greenline, yes, water is an absolute necessity.
Over here in Singapore, we do not have enough water.
We need to buy water from our neighboring country, which makes water a very precious commodity, and expensive too!
I just hope that wealth is distributed more evenly, so that everyone can have money to buy necessities, and some money to buy whatever we want.
@raj_gupta (311)
• India
3 Oct 11
I am damn sure that the financial experts are right in this but I'll never analyse my life or lifestyle to that extent. This kind of thing can be done on things that we do for our luxury. WE can argue that only inner wears are required to cover the body effectively enough but wearing shirts and pants is not want, it is still a necessity.
@rodmarfc (8)
• Philippines
3 Oct 11
Those things you need everyday are necessities like shelter, food, water, clothes, soap, toothpaste, and other things that we badly need to go on with our life are necessities. Transportation is a also a necessity but buying a very expensive car is a want.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
5 Oct 11
Hi Rodmarfc, fortunately over here, the public transportation is very efficient, and we do not need a car.
It does save a bit, but even then, the cost of transportation can run to more than a hundred dollars per month per person.
Shelter is the only one that can kill!
A small apartment here of two bedrooms cost about a third of a million dollars.
It takes about 25 years to 30 years to pay off the apartment.
Since the land lease is for just 99 years, you can see how expensive housing really is.
I think if we have to list out items by items, there are literally a hundred items that can considered as necessities.
