A Random Needs Vs. Wants Rant
I haven’t written a blog for quite a while because it has just been a little bit of a downer period lately. Not only have I been a little bummed, but I went out of town last weekend to climb and came home so extremely exhausted that I took five consecutive rest days. I think the rest was needed and I definitely feel a little bit more up to par.
I have been thinking a lot lately about a variety of subjects, one of which being the difference between needs and wants. It seems that many Americans can’t distinguish between these two words and proof of this is shown in the fact that economic reports show us spending more than we earn.
I try to live a really simple life. I have a small apartment, almost all my furniture was used prior to me taking ownership, my used car is old with dents, I seek out “good deals” and the only belongings that really mean anything to me would be the data on my computer and my dog (but I consider her more of a friend than a possession). I seriously enjoy living a minimalist lifestyle and being able to save over 50% of my paycheck. If anything it makes me feel free and mobile.
The only main expenditure I have on an annual basis is a plane ticket to a new destination and from there it is just backpacks, hostels and thousands of great memories. And perhaps that is why I am thinking about all this. It is time for me to book another trip and I am starting to contemplate where I might head for this year’s adventure. In 2005 I did a solo backpack trip through China for a month. It was probably my favorite destination thus far in my adventures as not only did it open my eyes to a whole new culture, government and lifestyle, but I realized how lucky I am to have been presented the opportunities that I have received thus far. In China I went through many small villages and saw a whole different standard of living. Not only did I have bugs in my food on a handful of occasions, but I used some restroom facilities that were anything but sanitary. I saw many people who lived with very little and here I was bopping around the whole country with ipod in hand.
On the other side of the economic spectrum, I had the opportunity to meet Warren Buffett a couple years ago and one of the things that impressed me the most was the simplicity of his life. He drove a pretty old Ford Explorer and lived in his original home. Here, the wealthiest man in the U.S., didn’t have a need to be showy or prove his status to others. Best of all, he attributed his wealth to being lucky enough to have won what he referenced as the “ovarian lottery” meaning he was lucky enough to be born in the US, as a male (for when he was born his situation would have been different if he were female) and to his parents who taught him good principles and leadership.
One of my annual goals for the past couple years has been to really contemplate needs versus wants when making a purchase. Of course I am not going to a full fledge extreme and refusing to spend any money, but rather just try and keep the concept in mind. Do I need to purchase a new car when my little Honda is still plugging away? Do I need to move to a different house when what I have is sufficient? Do I really need a gym membership when it is warm enough to climb outside? Yeah, I am just trying to keep it in perspective.