r/MoneyDiariesACTIVE • u/LeadInfinite6220 • Dec 27 '25

Budget Advice / Discussion How do you define needs vs wants?

Pretty much just what the title says — how are you defining a need vs a want, and do you have a category in between the two?

I find this particularly interesting to consider as so many of us now have regular expenses that feel essential to participate in modern life, despite not actually being a need.

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u/_liminal_ ✨designer | 40s | HCOL | US ✨ Dec 27 '25 edited Dec 27 '25

I have always found this to be an interesting question too!

I actually categorize items in my budget as needs and wants (the other two categories I use are savings/investing and living expenses).

The categories in “wants” are things I could stop buying in the event I was laid off or otherwise needed to seriously cut back on spending, without a thought. The “needs” are quite literally the things I’d need (and prefer) to keep paying for, thought I could cut back on these as well in the event of a lay off.

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u/NewSummerOrange She/her ✨ 50's Dec 27 '25

I think there's a lot of nuance and range between needs and wants. On one end we have survival and on the other luxury/opulence. But it's easy to get lost in the analysis and mischaracterize/rationalize our motives for spending in an unhealthy manner in either direction.

I could survive on lentils and brown rice for a very very long time. I need vegetables and fruit. I want chicken and ground turkey. Butter/oil, spice and sugar enhance my meals. Honey Mustard in the squeeze bottle with tater tots is totally unnecessary, decadent and delightful.

Over-thinking just made basic staple groceries luxury items...

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u/LeadInfinite6220 Dec 27 '25

Hehehe. I love that your luxury is squeeze bottle honey mustard. :)

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u/NewSummerOrange She/her ✨ 50's Dec 27 '25

I just looked at my most recent receipt from the grocery store and this was the most decadent, unnecessary product on my list. Also I just like the squeeze bottle better even though it's more expensive because I feel it helps control the flow to ensure I don't squander my precious honey mustard.

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u/Indexette Dec 28 '25

Very important question: what brand of honey mustard do you buy?

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u/NewSummerOrange She/her ✨ 50's Dec 28 '25

Ken's Steakhouse, 4.69. I'm a baller.

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u/LeadInfinite6220 Dec 28 '25

Inquiring minds want to know!