Want: to feel a need or a desire for; wish for

Every time I enter a bike store or one of these expos at races I ask myself on single in question, “Is there anything I NEED here?” Do I really need that Giro helmet? I understand it’s on sale, but do I really need it?

Triathetes have the natural want to have the lightest this, the lightest that; myself included. As I’m gearing up for Ironman UK, I have a need vs. want list that I’m trying to stay true to. I would love to have a pair of Zipp clinchers, which I’m sure, would help me greatly for the winds that they are projecting for the race…but I don’t need it. I do however; need a hydro tail to carry two extra water bottles.

Need vs. Want

As I read the listen to the news everyday, I hear the same thing over and over again: too many Americans who spent too much and couldn’t afford their payments. Now they are losing their homes and credit cards companies are hiking up their rates. I know there was predatory lending going on, but still, if you make 40k a year, but spend 60k a year a year, then that’s just bad money management.

I currently need a new car…badly. My 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix is on its last leg. I grew up in that car. Lots of memories. As of today, it has 304,128 miles on it. Two months ago, a cylinder broke. So I technically have a V5 now instead of a V6. Ha! I’m thinking about getting an intermediate SUV, like a Toyota Rav4, Kia Sportage, of Chevy Equinox. I know there are great deals out there. But do I NEED a car? Better yet, can I AFFORD a new car? I could join Philly Car Share (a local car sharing company). If I can’t afford a pair of HED-3 wheels, how can I buy a new car?

I could never understand people with the mentality of, “Oh, it’s ok to spoil yourself every now and then!” Spoil is a very subjective word. Buying a desert after a dinner is one way of spoiling.Charging thousands of dollars on a shopping spree is another. I know this maybe preaching to the choir, but as we dig out of the economic mess we are currently in, I hope more people are asking themselves, “Do I need this, or do I just want it”? There is nothing with wanting something, but I don’t believe people are taking it to the next level and asking if they can afford it. I don’t think people have a yearly budget or 3 year budget plan. I work in HR, and I speak to many financial advisors on a regular basis. They tell me about 90 percent of the time, the reason he has to tell people they have to work till they are 75 is because of too much credit card debt. School loans aren’t a problem, neither is a mortgage. Credit cards over and over again, destroy the nest egg.

I know that I will be in a technological disadvantage by not having this and that, but like many people who don’t put themselves over their head, I’ll work on making more money to buy these things rather than charging it to my credit card and paying for it (and the interest) down the road. I am not going to try and “keep up with the Jones’” triathlon style. Yea, I feel a little inferior when the guy next to me is pumping up his Hed-3’s while I pump up my Tiagra wheels, but that’s something I’ll have within time.

I believe in the instant gratification culture we live in, we need to take hold as to what’s important. Priorities need to be made, and honored. If the majority of people do this, put away their credit cards, I think we’ll be a lot better off.