Household Budgeting 101: Needs First, Then Wants

How much money do you think U.S. companies spend each year on advertising? The answer is $150,000,000,000. That's one hundred and fifty billion dollars. Every year.

Next question: What's the point? The answer is "to create desire" -- to make us want products and services. From the time we're toddlers, we begin absorbing the world around us, a world brimming with advertisements, jingles, slogans, and images designed to make us want things.

Of course, it's true that some of these products and services are things we actually need. For example, we cannot live without food. So, does that restaurant in the television advertisement count as a need? Or is it a want? The professionals at our consumer credit counseling service (CCCS) agency can help you distinguish between them.

Your Needs

For many people, distinguishing between wants and needs can become a problematic area when it comes to household budgeting. While it's true that restaurants offer food, it's likely that there are cheaper options available, such as eating at home.

The same holds true for most other needs. Take clothing, for example. It may be tempting to shop with specific designers or brand names in mind, but there are often less expensive alternatives available to provide you with your basic needs.

So, let's look at your household budget. We're sure it contains line items for food, clothing, housing, utilities, and other essentials. These are your basic needs, the things you need for survival. Before moving on to your wants, it's recommended to review your "needs" to see if cheaper alternatives are available.

A friendly warning: During the process, you'll need to be completely honest with yourself; it can be tough to admit that some of the things you consider essential are actually things that you don't absolutely need or things that can be acquired for less money.

Here's another example: We covered clothing and "eating at home versus eating out" already. But what about shelter? Are there cheaper houses or apartments you could consider? What about utilities? Are there savings opportunities in this area? (Hint: We have published other articles on our web site outlining many such savings ideas.)

Your Wants

Our wants can be a bit trickier to understand. By definition, our wants are the things we would like to have, but could live without. For example, many people want a cell phone. However, how many of us actually need one?

As much as some people may not like to admit it, cell phones and many other electronic gadgets are largely conveniences. They do make life easier, but that's not the point. The point is that there is a cost associated with these things and you must ask yourself whether your budget can accommodate that expense.

Again, keep in mind that we're primarily talking about people who are likely experiencing household budgeting or debt management issues at the moment. For those with money leftover after budgeting for their needs, purchasing wants is not as large a problem. However, the leftover money may be more effectively utilized.

Recommended Action

• First, take a hard look at your own wants and needs.
• Address and budget for your needs first.
• Next, make sure you're paying down your debt.
• Consider setting some money aside in a savings account.
• Finally, enjoy the extra money you do have. Knowing you can afford that dinner out, that cell phone, that brand name jacket, etc. can make the experience much more enjoyable.

After taking care of all of your essentials, your leftover money is known as discretionary income. What you do with your discretionary income is certainly up to you. The key is knowing what money is truly extra and avoiding a situation in which you’ll accumulate unwanted debt.

Seek Professional Assistance

If you find yourself facing trouble with credit card debt or need assistance with household budgeting, please don't hesitate to contact our consumer credit counseling service (CCCS) agency and speak with one of our certified debt management professionals.