When it comes to owning a home, buying a new car, purchasing a new Plasma TV, etc. everyone has their own opinion about what the best thing to do really is.  We came across this interesting post where the author came up with the idea of just getting rid of their home and living with friends, family or just anywhere they could to avoid having to work.

We started talking about the things we really need vs. the things we want.  If you ever have this conversation- BE PREPARED- it will never end!  It was agreed all of us WANT a Corvette (a new yellow Corvette please if anyone’s offering) or other sports car, the latest brand new Plasma TV, video game consoles, a huge house, a boat, etc. but very few of us actually NEED any of it.

You NEED a house or other dwelling to protect you from the elements…the size of this NEEDED residence would actually be fairly small if you just went with a place with a bathroom, kitchen and bedroom.  It’s because of all the other stuff you WANT (and ended up buying) that you have to keep buying bigger and bigger homes or apartments.  George Carlin has a great bit about this particular process!

 So we now know you NEED a place to stay, you need electricity (unless you are one of those outdoors people), you need running water, some clothes if you have to go out in public and you need food and water to keep you alive.  Simple basic NEEDS- that’s it!  So if those are your only NEEDS…then that means EVERYTHING ELSE IS A WANT…something you don’t have to have- you just have it because you want it.  The cell phone, the internet, the satellite or cable service, the new furniture, the new clothes, the kids dance lessons and everything else are just wants and desires. You could live without all of it!

You could go on and on with this discussion.  But as the news about ’stagflation’, ‘recession’ and other economic doom continues- keep all this in mind. 

Someone else who has pushed his listeners to new levels with this same type of thinking is Dave Ramsey.  With his radio program and audiobooks- he has a very loyal following.  If you haven’t checked Dave’s message out yet- we highly recommend you do- just to see wants and needs in a different perspective in his Total Money Makeover Audiobook:

The RentBusinessAudiobooks.com staff hope you meet your personal Financial Fitness goals soon!  Have FUN!

RBA Blogger
rbablog@rentbusinessaudiobooks.com