Tightwad Tuesday Tip - The Fulfillment Curve

I wrote this post in September 2009. Apparently, I *NEED* to read this and apply it in my life. It's ironic that I write things some times and then completely and totally forget all about it. Perfect timing right before the holidays.

Needs, wants, luxuries...where to draw the line? This weekend we went on a trip. I asked my husband, "Do we need (*NEED*) anything at the store besides candy for our trip back home?" He about fell over laughing. Yeah - we really *NEED* candy. In my defense I knew that it wasn't a need - I knew we would survive if we didn't have it, but I knew that we would buy it at the gas station for twice as much money compared to Target. So it ended up being a different kind of need.

Where do we draw the line between needs, wants and luxuries?

Here are some examples of needs vs. wants vs. luxuries:
In our town, because of where we live, we need a car. If we had chosen to live downtown we might not have needed one. However, we want our children to participate in sports so we need a car to get them to their activities. It's a small spread out town and there isn't public transportation.

Do we need two cars? Probably not. I know that we could get by with one. It makes our life easier to have two cars. Do we need a third vehicle. Absolutely not. Even though our suburban is 19 years old and is dying I would still consider it be a luxury. It is nice to have a four wheel drive vehicle when we get four feet of snow and to have a vehicle with eight seats in it when we have company. In this example I would say:

• 1 car = need
• 1 car = need and 1 car = want
• 1 car = need, 1 car = want, 1 19 year old suburban = luxury

You could make this same argument with the food that we serve our family. Food is supposed to give our body energy so we can survive.

• beans and rice = nourishment/need
• burger, beans, rice, tomatoes, cheese = nourishment/want
• steak, baked potato, salad, fresh bread, glass of wine, etc = nourishment/luxury

If we had steak every single night for dinner we would not be able to appreciate all that we have been given to us in the form of simple food. Having steak once a year helps us to appreciate it even more.

Have you ever thought "it would sure be nice to go out for all my meals like Mr. and Mrs. XXX". Then you go on vacation, eat out every meal, come home and all you want to have is a simple meal at home. You are so tired of eating out all of the time. Funny how that works! We have got to realize and separate our true needs from wants from luxuries. It's fine to indulge but overindulging won't help us to appreciate the life that we have.

In "The Complete Tightwad Gazette" by Amy Dacyczyn on page 79 and 80 she wrote about the fulfillment curve.

The basic idea is that when we spend more and more and more money we THINK we'll feel happier or more fulfilled. That is often not the case. It seems to me that the more I get the more I seem to want. The more time I spend at the mall or grocery store, the more "wanty" I become. I often think the "if only's". If only, I had more money to decorate my house I'd like it more, if only, I could spend more money on clothes I would dress nicer, if only, blah blah blah.

The next time I start to think if only, I am going to focus my mind on being content and thankful for everything I already have.

Another favorite book of mine "Your Money or Your Life" by Joe Dominguez has a lot more information about this as well. Check out The New Road Map website for more information.

This works for me!!!

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