Forbes Magazine recently posted an article talking about what Americans continued buying- even during the recession. Your thoughts about the article. Did you and your family do similar things?
Sunday, August 2, 2009
America: Wants or Needs = Do you know the difference?
Forbes Magazine recently posted an article talking about what Americans continued buying- even during the recession. Your thoughts about the article. Did you and your family do similar things?
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I think people think the things they WANT are the things they need, and they don't take into consideration of the things that they ACTUALLY NEED. My family only buys what it needs.. Money is tight so if I want something, I have to buy it myself.
people want things that they aren't able to get, but they don't really need them. i think that people should get what they need more than what they want.
I think that people subconciosly want things and money is no object, no matter how bad the economy is. That is how my dad is with it.We get everything cheap, except with toilet paper. He has to have the name brand which costs 3 dollars for 4 rolls when we can get the off brand at 10 rolls for 5 dollars. Sometimes people can't change, no matter what and this article proves it.
People often convience themselves they need something when in reality they only want what ever it is. Putting their wants before their needs isn't the wisest of things to do but pepople don't always think wisely. With this being said people need to realise what their spending their money on and stop puuting their selfs into debt.
There are still some people that are spending a lot of money despite the fact we are in a recession, whether or not the recession has affected them we dont know. I know my mom watches what she spends, even though we weren't affected by the recession.
So many people are in denial that the recession is not effecting them in any way.... it disapoints me. Looking at some of these "popular" purchases is disturbing in a way. When thousands of people are shelling out about $5.00 for some bandana that will keep your dog "feeling and looking cool" rather than using their well-earned money to buy food, pay rent, etc. If you are not going to put your money to good use, give it to a family who is actually trying to do something about their recession issues!
Well thankfully both of my parents still have their jobs and i'm also working part-time. I think its very important to use your money wisely. I help out alot with this by paying for my gas and insurance on my car, paying when i go do things with my friends, etc. money-wise, things haven't changed drasyically for my family since the recession but things have changed. I think people need to focus on how to survive and get their family the things they need, instead of wasting it on what they want.
Not to long ago everything was looking well. Both my parents had well paying jobs and I also had a job and money was not an object to me, I used to buy myself and my friends anything we desired, I should have seen the warning signs sooner they were right in front of my face. All four people in my family (my mom, dad, brother and myself.) Seemed to slowly but surely losing hours at work. Then one unfortunate day my mom came home with the news that she had been laid off, for god knows how long. The whole spending money on everything quickly came to a halt. I never realized how much I took pretty much being spoiled for granted until I wasn't anymore. My car insurance bill was raised to help my parents out and instead of going out every weekend I've had to stay in to save on gas that I've had to start completely paying for myself with no help from anyone. My family was a little bit forced to stop getting everything we wanted and focus only on what we truly needed. I will admit though it is hard to stop wanting things, I believe it is human nature to want things even if we know we shouldn't. Some people are lucky to not have to choose, others know better, and then there are some like myself that have no choice and must only get by on what they need and not what they want.
Its crazy to see how much people are still spending even with the money problems. I just really feel like this should be a time when people should dicifer their wants from there needs. I usually dont have enough money to really buy what i want. I usually just feed myself and thats about it haha. But right now people should really figure out their wants and needs.
It's interesting to see what each city tends to buy and how that fits with the trends and people there. But i feel that with the economy the way it is, people still feel the need to go out and spend money even if they really don't need it (but rather want it). Personally, my family has continued to spend money on everyday objects but has definately cut back from what we used to.
I was surpised while reading the article what the top sellers were for each state. Even in tough times, some people can still get everything they want while others can barely afford what they need. I am glad that designer clothes are not the main priority in a majority of the states. I find it sad that people can still get everything they want during this time. I think some people need to take a step back and look at those around them who need help during this time.
People are not paying attention to what they buy. Every since the recession my parents only got what I needed and if I wanted something I had to get it myself. Since jobs are not really hiring I can't really get what I want. So people need to open there eyes and pay attention to what they spend their money on an not go into dept.
A lot of people always buy what they want, and not what they need. They are spending to much money while were in the recession, and it only hurt them down the road. People first need to get what they need and if they have money left over, then they can get what they want.
People really do forget what the difference is between want and need until they have to choose. When something is in there life day after day whether they need it or not it becomes habit and something they think they need to live a normal life.
We live in such a blessed country, that is used to getting what they want when they want it. When the recession came alot of people couldn't break out of their old habits of spending money on things that they don't need. As a nation, we need a reality check, and stop spending money on useless items.
It has come down to the fact that a lot of our country is spoiled. While they know that we are in an economic crisis, they continue to spend precious money on things that are FAR from needs. It is a nasty habit that needs to be broken. Most counties would die to have simple utilities... we bedazzle ours....
People these days have seriously gone over-board on what they take for granted.
Someday, hopefully, everyone will come to a realization that to keep a healty, managable life, they are going to have to bring up what comes first, the things they need to pretty much be able to live on their own.
But, if this doesn't happen soon, then everything is just going to go down the gutter for them, and they are totally going to regret it.
Forced to choose between to objects. Weigh the options. For example... Either go without electric and buy a laptop? or Pay your electric bill which is somewhat a necessity,and eventually get that laptop at a more appropriate time. Wants&Needs are quite tricky because I personally would put forth my wants before me needs,contridicting what I just said haha. I think I place my wants before my needs because I haven't been deprived of my needs.
I have a job.I buy what I need and thats it.I have a tight budget and especially now since they cut my hours last week.People think they NEED things when they really just WANT stuff.Especially now, people need to figure out there wants from their needs.If they dont this country is going to be in debt even more than we already are.
People in this time are worried about the materialistic things in life instead of the necessities. If you were to ask people what is the of the first bills you pay of the month they would say either cell phone or cable. Instead of rent or utilities. Although most americans are falling into this cycle including myself we are starting to realize sometimes you can live without those wants.
In my family I always here "We are on a fixed income we have to cut back." But then the next day somebody is out buying something. My mom always says make sure you pay for your priorities and then you can buy whatever you want. Usually by the time I pay for gas, insurance, and unlimited data for my cell phone plan I have a little bit of money left to put in the bank. I'd like to save but I am a creature of habit-- impulse buying, even in a recession
It's easy to say people are crazy for the things they spend money on for what they want. We've all been there. There are things out there that we feel like we can't live without. And at the time, we think to ourselves that we NEED this item. But with the economy in bad shape, nobody can afford to make meaningless purchases for their wants.
I think slowly but surely everyone will look at wants and needs differently than they have in the past. I have definatly learned the difference. I had to get a job to buy the things I want, at first it was what I want and now sometimes I have to spend it on what I need.
I think people want things that they don't need , and don't think of what they risk by just buying the material things.
A lot of people are still spending a lot of money, even if they don't really even have much to spend. America is obsessed with buying what they want instead of what's actually needed. If people were more conscious about their money, they wouldn't find themselves drowning in debt and financial issues.
Even before the recession really began, my family only bought what we really needed, but now it's even less as to what we buy.
I wish, along with the rest of America, that I could get what I want as well.
But then, there'd be nothing to want.
america is spoiled if you ask me, and im not saying that im not. I usually get what i want even if i dont need it. it's not helping the ecomony though. More people are getting deeper into debt by spending money on uneccesary things.
People think theyre wants are theyre needs. my family only buys the things we need. Alot of familys are buying things that they want, just "extras". People need to realize theyre needs.
I think people are so used to buying there useless items like vitamins or kitchenware that they have become used to buying these items. They think they need it when they really don't and when it comes to the things they need they put it off cause they "can always get it later." I think too many people get the two mixed up.
Somethings that I've noticed about people, is that it's easy to complain about being short on cash, but it's not easy for the spender to realize why. I have some friends that need government help to own their house, but they have large, plasma screen TVs and cable. One family even has three dogs, one cat, and they're all heavy smokers. By eliminating some of the costs (i.e. cutting down on, if not quitting, smoking) they would have enough money to get their own house, with their own money. Cable is not required for a comfortable lifestyle. I have never had a television that received more than the news and ten or so channels of other things, and I am perfectly fine with that. It's not imperative to survival to sit in front of the cable TV you really can't afford.
I think people are not thinking about the long term effects of thier spending. Spending money on pet supplies? Other the basic needs i don' think your pet is going to know the difference. Buty America will learn someday.
A lot of people buy things that they don't need and they buy less things that they do need. People need to start empraphising.
Many people make things that they want into the things they make their selves believe that they actually need. Their needs should be above their wants, and they'll have to find that out the hard way.
Recently i ad to get a job to buy things for myself because money don't come as easy these days. and now that i have my own money i finally realize what it means when you need to buy things you actually need, instead of things you actually want. we need things like food, clothing and to pay the bills. instead a lot of people don't see to that perspective and still just buy unnessecary things they don't need. but, we're in a recession and we need to start focusing on the things we need in life instead of things we simply want.
i have a job to get the things that i want. my mother only buys what is necessary to the household. therefore i know how hard it is to manage money, and i've learned that prices on things are expensive so it makes me think before i spend.
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