Are People Today Working For Their Needs Or Their Wants?
By sunshinelady
@sunshinelady (7609)
United States
February 28, 2007 6:19pm CST
When I worked at the child care center I got to know this mom fairly well and we had some good talks. Well, she came in one day and had mentioned that she wished she could just quit work and stay at home with her little girl. I looked at her and asked her a question, Are you working for your needs or wants? I told her not to answer the question to me but just think about it. She commented to me that when their next door neighbor pulls up in a nice new car that her and her husband start talking about getting a new car. They start looking and before long they have a brand new car in the drive way. She looked at me and said I guess that means I am working for my wants. I told her that each person has to come to the point of how important are certain things in life. So do you think people today are working for their needs or wants? I judge no one but just was curious and what better place to come but here at mylot.
4 people like this
7 responses
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
1 Mar 07
I am no longer in the workforce but when I worked (all my life) it was for my needs and if there was extra then that was an added bonus and went into savings for any future wants.
3 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
1 Mar 07
I forgot to add that the savings were also incase of a rainy day.
1 person likes this
@silvermoonmyst (943)
• United States
1 Mar 07
Personally my husband works, i dont, i stay home with our toddler and im pregnant with a second baby. My husband makes enough money to cover our bills and going out and splurging once or twice a week. We get everything we need. Some of what we want. Without me having to work, Of course i do things at home to lessen our bills. We garden in summer, and grow all our fresh foods, store up enough veggies and potatos to freeze for winter. We also grow berries. We conserve energy and live frugally.
For us we hav a good life, rather ideal.
3 people like this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
1 Mar 07
That sounds like a wonderful life. Stay at home moms are very special people and they do a lot to enhance the lives of their children. Your children are special gifts from God and they deserve the best. You are giving them your love and devotion and keeping them safe and teaching them. My hat off to you silvermoonmyst. Your kids will always remember what it was like having mom home. They will have some wonderful memories.
2 people like this
@JMPILAPIL (503)
• Philippines
1 Mar 07
I think majority of the people today are working for their needs.
I don't know how to prove it but I think people work first to achieve their needs and after having enough good for what they want then they eventually shift on their goal to work for their wants.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
1 Mar 07
I'm working for needs - by the time I take care of those, nothing left. I do have wants though and have my little "wish list" if I ever do have some extra. I think way too many people are working for wants though and would be much happier if they stuck with the needs.
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
1 Mar 07
I don't think that every person works for wants but I do believe there are some that do. I don't think those wants when they get them make them happy. Material things do not bring happiness and I think that is what those people are looking for. I myself am working for my needs. There are things I would like to do but right now they are not possible. I put my trust in God and if it is meant to be it will. Thanks for your response.
@cherriemae (3370)
• Philippines
4 Mar 07
I think all of us wanted to have work to our needs and wants. We need to work so that we can eat, send our children to school,need to buy stuff for the kids and for your self,need to pay our bills,to buy stuff for our house, need to have a good education for the children,for their future. We also need to work for our wants, like want to have a beautiful dress or suit, want to have a luxury car if you can afford, want to travel anywhere.. I think it's not bad to work for our needs and our wants because where only human, sometimes materialistic..
2 people like this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
4 Mar 07
Excellent response because that is very true. Thank you for your response.
@bunmi2501 (465)
• Nigeria
1 Mar 07
Some people really dont have time thinking about wants or needs, they only have the sense that they must work to earn a leaving and take care of there family, how well can we even define our want and our needs?
3 people like this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
1 Mar 07
But bunmi2501, there are those also that do have the time. Not all of us of course, because we are out here working to make ends meet.
2 people like this
@nikkib310 (58)
• United States
7 Mar 07
I think majority of people are working for needs. I don't think the average American are spending more for need versus wants. I think people are just trying to survive. We are in a time of Have versus the Have nots. In order to survive as a family you have to make at least 100k to make it. Does anyone one agree or disagree?
