A reader recently sent me this question: How do you know when a purchase is a necessity and when it’s not?
Well, of course there are the basics – food, clothing, shelter, gasoline. Then there are the things that perhaps won’t sustain life, but make it a whole lot nicer, like books, television, dinner out. Then there are luxury items such as jewelry, boats, vacation homes, and such.
This chart is very simple, and very obvious, but it’s really not that cut and dried. Take, for instance, food, which is a necessity in and of itself, but not all food is necessary. We need things like dairy, meats, and produce to sustain ourselves, but we don’t need the gourmet sliced cheese—we can purchase cheddar, which is equally nutritious but costs a third the amount. Clothing is something we all need, but we can choose to purchase clothes that are on sale rather than paying full price for a designer label. Everything we buy contains an element of choice, and we can choose to spend the least amount of money on each item.
Fast food isn’t a necessity, and yet, there have been a few times when it has literally saved me. I don’t always know when my blood sugar is going to bottom out, and it never gives me a warning. I can be out running errands and suddenly feel the world start to spin and I need to eat now. As in, now. In a case like that, whatever food is closest to hand is a necessity.
My advice in determining a necessary purchase is to think for a moment – how will having this item affect my life? How will I feel after I buy it? Will it bless me in some way, or will I feel guilty for getting it? Will I be benefitted as I use it, or will I regret spending the money? Sometimes a purchase feels like a luxury—such as the laptop I bought two years ago—when in reality, it’s a tool you will use over and over again and it will pay for itself. Other times, it’s just splurging. Only you can really know what each purchase means to you and if it’s wise or if it’s not. And if you’re in doubt, leave it at the store and come home to think it over. Sometimes you need that separation from temptation to really see things clearly.
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