Where do you draw the line?

[Gruntina]

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

I echo the sentiments of the budgeteers.

The only thing I allow myself to buy is stuff that I need for every living.

However, if there's anything I want beyond that, I have to create a small savings for it, and save up until I have enough to pay it up front.

In that sense, I can have anything I want. I just have to save up for it.

Right now though, all I WANT is to pay off my student loans!

(Although, I feel like I should change my name from Broken Arrow to Broken Record. )

I hear ya there Broken Arrow. I am constantly thinking about paying off my debts till exhaustion and continue to do so. I am so adamant about paying it off and it consumes my mind.

[Broken Arrow]

Don't worry Grutina. If you have to be obessed with something, this isn't a bad one to obsess about. I mean, financial freedom. Who wouldn't want that, right?

[autoxer]

Originally Posted by sarah4554

What criteria do you use to decide between need and just plain want?

I don't use the line between need and want to decide how to spend money. I know that I spend money on my wants and I am okay with that. I don't really enjoy shopping, but if there is something I want, I'll do a lot of research and then decide if I still want it then I'll buy it. The fact that something is on clearance doesn't change how much I want or need it.

I have a list of things that I want, and I think that most of them I have convinced myself, are necessary, lol. I don't usually buy things though, unless I have money for it, and like autoxer have researched it, and I usually do not buy the cheapest item, or the used item, because when I do buy something I want it be good quality. Not that I won't try and find it as cheaply as I can.

[rob62521]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

The older you get the less stuff you want and you wonder why you wanted all the "stuff" that you already have?

Is it really age that makes you want less or the wisdom to be satisfied and blessed with what you have?

[pearlieq]

Originally Posted by rob62521

Is it really age that makes you want less or the wisdom to be satisfied and blessed with what you have?

Some unholy meeting of the two, would be my guess.

I got more zen about "stuff" as I got older and matured, but also the older I got, the more "stuff" I had. It just kept accumulating and it became easier to recognize that perhaps I had enough!