Are you struggling to pick the right one between Need and Want?

Here you’ll get a perspective on the necessity of recognizing the needs and wants at the right time and right situation.

As per the definition given by Google, ‘A need is something necessary to live and function such as food, clothing, shelter and medical care. A want is something that can improve your quality of life.’

Now I am not going to tell you the meaning of needs and wants rather I want to emphasize the fact that their definitions have been changed so far.

In this fast-changing world with our decreasing attention spans we often need help understanding the difference between need and want. Sometimes we give more priority to our wants knowingly or unknowingly which impacts our lives later.

Let’s talk about some scenarios that are trending in our daily lives.

Scenario 1

Suppose after completing your graduation you have got a high-paying job. You want to buy an iPhone. If you can buy it with instant cash then it’s okay. But if you want to buy it by giving monthly EMIs then you should think twice. You are at the early stage of your career. The job sectors are changing very rapidly after the Covid-19 pandemic. In this situation, the need is you have to upskill yourself first so that you can cope with the changes that will come in a few years. At this stage, you should not take the pressure of EMIs rather you should invest money to upgrade yourself for the betterment of your career.

Scenario 2

Suppose you are in a job or in a business. You love to see online movies every weekend. In the era of online education, there are so many online courses available on the internet through which you can learn anything as per your requirements in professional life. So, watching a movie is a want — — it’s fine, but sometimes you have to cut this desire to learn a new skill as it’s also a need too.

Scenario 3

When you start your career from that time you have to take extra care of yourself. Doing exercise, and maintaining a healthy diet plan are very important. You like junk food. You want to eat pizza, burgers, and cold drinks very often. Now, this kind of food habit will create many types of health issues in the future — that you already know. So, you have to cut this out to live a healthy lifestyle. Remember if you stay fit you can earn money. If you are unfit you can not earn money rather all your hard-earned money will be finished due to medical treatment.

Scenario 4

As inflation is increasing day by day, investment becomes very necessary in everyone’s life. A proper SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) is very much important from the early stage of your career. Now you enjoy weekend parties very much. Have you calculated how much it costs? Is it greater than your SIP amount? If yes, then you should think twice. Sometimes you have to cut this to maintain your financial portfolio. You should not compromise with your SIP goal which can give you a financially independent life.

Scenario 5

In our free time, we love to spend time on social media platforms. There is so much content floating around. Our screen time has increased drastically over the last few years. We spend hours mindlessly scrolling through social media. You can connect with your friends through social media. You like to spend time there as it distracts you from the daily life hustle. Undoubtedly, there are many good resources available on the internet. Now in this scenario, you should have at least 1 hour of ‘Me Time’ in your daily routine.

Now the question is what is Me Time?

It is the time when there will be no phone, no laptop or pc, no internet, no friends, and no relatives; only you stay with yourself. During this time ask yourself — How am I? What do I want from my life? What is my goal?

You have to limit your social media time to spend some ‘Me Time’ with yourself. This is your need. ‘Me Time’ helps you to focus on your goals, to prioritize your needs and wants.

Conclusion

As a human, it’s impossible to cut down your Wants all the time. You have to remember that for fulfilling any Want you should not compromise your Need.

Now as per the definition food, clothing, shelter, and medical care — are needs. I am adding some new Needs which are — at least 30 minutes of exercise, a minimum of healthy food habits, upskilling yourself regularly, proper financial planning, and having some ‘Me Time’.

What about the Wants?

That is different for everyone.

Choose wisely between Needs and Wants.

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P.S. — Thank you for reading this. Please share it with your friends and family if you found it helpful.

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