New Television:
This is totally a WANT. I would love to replace my current 42 inch LCD TV in my bedroom and go with a 47 inch LED model. The TV in my bedroom works just fine. I don't NEED this. This is 100% a want, not a need.
New Running Shoes:
Nike Shox Turbo 12, $125. This is one is sad. I actually own these exact same shoes in Yellow but I like them so much that I also want them in Red. I love color matching my work out outfits and I figured these would go great with my red Nike shirts and red sunglasses and hat. That brings us to our next want below.
Oakley Sunglasses:
Oakley Flack Jacket, $220. This one you may think is STUPID. I actually own 8 other pairs of Oakley sunglasses with close to 12 different lens colors. I figured I could get this new Black and White combination to match some of my golf outfits. Alright, this shouldn't even be a want or a NEED, like I said STUPID.
Apple MacBook Air:
Our last WANT not NEED for today is a Apple MacBook Air. This is simply the most amazing laptop I have ever seen or used. If you haven't seen one go to the Apple store and play with one. The model I WANT is only $1399! Almost as much as the new refrigerator we just bought. This is something I really don't NEED. I already have a personal Windows laptop at home and I carry a couple of laptops for work. I also have a couple of working Mac desktops at home. Do I really need this? NO NO NO!
There you have it. The things I was looking at last night. Things I don't NEED. It felt good writing this and this will help to remind me that these are things that I really don't NEED and would only bring more debt in to our lives.
What are some of your wants and not needs? I wonder if I'm the only who has a problem.
HS
15 comments:
8 pairs of Oakley sunglasses?!?!! No wonder you are in debt. What is wrong with you? Why do your workout clothes all need to match? You're working out, not participating in a fashion show. Get over yourself. Sell some of your stuff and that credit card debt will be gone in no time. No one needs that much stuff, especially sunglasses.
I know I know, I said STUPID LOL, trying to change :(
HS
Well, you do have good taste!
Running shoes! So you like running? That's cool! Didn't realize you ran. :)
My wants: trips, a kayak, kitchen goodies, new purse, skull cookie jar lol
Needs: some drywall repair, a couple of new tires, pay off debt, new clothes for the whole family, new dishwasher...I'm sure there's more. ;)
You can do it! When the baby comes you'll have a whole new set of wants and needs. :)
Life is good! It's not about the things we havehave but the people we love and the experience we have.
Seriously that's a lot of sunglasses and electronics I your home. At least you know the difference now between wants and needs. Good luck with self control. It's hard not to buy new, cool stuff.
I'd like to say I'm a runner but I'm no pro like you, half marathon last month, I saw your blog LOL
HS
New TV for the bedroom? I wish I didn't even have one in mine! (but my significant other won that battle). And you should seriously give up on the matching work out clothes. That's kind of lame. I like to think of how good I look without clothes because I'm working out - not how good I look while doing it.
I don't think you should cut out wants entirely, just find a way to budget it in. I think you're setting yourself up for failure if you try to quit everything cold turkey. Why not keep this want list, and then put something like $100 or $200 a month into a spending account? When you have enough money for one of the items, you can choose to buy it or keep saving for a bigger item.
As for TV in the bedroom, I wouldn't do it. Couples that keep televisions in the bedroom have less sex and poorer sleeps. It's not good for you.
The fact that you have time to shop online for all of this stuff makes me think that you guys are just really bored. Do you have any activities besides going to work?
You know what i think you should do ... sit down and total up EVERYTHING you owe. I mean everything. All the credit cards, store cards, bank cards, charge cards, gas cards, what you owe on your cars, on the fridge, on the hospital bills. EVERYTHING. One big honking total. And look at it. I don't even say you have to post it here ... just so that you know what you owe.
Because what I think is that you probably don't have any idea how much debt you're really in. I see you talk about this card or that card or the Macy's bill or the fridge you bought interest free and I think you compartmentalize that in your mind. I think you fail to see that all of those things actually add up to one huge sinkin' load of debt.
And then once you do that, think about all the things you're going to actually NEED for your child when he or she comes .. and ask yourself how you're going to pay for those things while you're still paying off 8 pairs of $200 sunglasses.
I think it's great that you're analyzing your motives like this. Of course you are not the only one. We ALL feel this way. Every single one of us buys things we don't need, but merely want.
I try to think hard, though, and weigh the pleasure I'll get from obtaining the item vs. the pleasure I'll get from paying off a debt. I'm just a little addicted to debt repayment because I love that feeling of having wide-open credit lines without a cent owed.
I have bought a few things for myself, but I keep the dollar amount low. Snobs might laugh at my purchases, but they don't balance my books, so it's really up to me and not the approval of materialistic people.
I have read this blog from time to time, but I just feel I have to comment this time. Are you and your wife on the same page with this debt? It often feels that you are just justifying the amount of spending you do. You have a child to think of now. Do you want that child to be involved in this struggle to make the payments. You are living beyond your means. Sell some of those glasses and anything else you have multiples. These things are clearly not filling the hole in side of you, time to change course.
We are on the same page and yes I started putting a lot of stuff on Ebay!! I'm trying to change!!
HS
HS.. your wife is NOT on the same page when it comes to paying down the debt. However, she is on the same page when it comes to spending. Seriously, dude, love ya and all, but she needs to be reigned in as well.
I know LOL... She's on the same page for now I just hope I can keep it up with her..
HS
It is ok to want stuff, but first priority;
-pay all regular monthly bills
-set up emergency fund
-pay off all debt
then you can occasionally get something you want if you spend cash!!!
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