The other day I started a topic on figuring out what our fake “needs” are (and minimizing them to keep more money in your wallets). I continue with a couple more examples below…
Courtesy of www.mahalo.com
RENT
When I was apartment-hunting for a certain price range, my friend told me, “You’ll never find a place for <$1200/month, that’s really unrealistic.”
It was unrealistic to her because her standard level of “need” living is not comparable to mine (and I’m pretty sure her price range was in the $2000/month range!). Her statement would have been more accurate if she had said, “You’ll never find a ONE-BEDROOM WITH A DOORMAN IN A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD IN MANHATTAN for <$1200/month.” This would have then made it a true statement. Luckily, I was NOT looking for this and I successfully found a great studio in Brooklyn (no doorman) for $1100/month [if $1100 sounds outrageous to you (as it still does to me), these are NYC rent prices].
Now…if I was really the Dolla Thug I say I am, I’d be living in a studio in Newark for $650/month – but then I’d have to invest in a bulletproof vest “need”…decisions, decisions…jk…jk…
SHOPPING
I was discussing clothes and shopping with another friend of mine (I know, I know, I have a lot of bougie friends, but I love them all!) and she told me that she loves to shop at BeBe. I told her, “Oh really? Cute stuff, but I can’t afford BeBe.”
She laughed and said, “Oh you can afford BeBe!!!”
Actually, I choose NOT to afford BeBe given my aggressive financial goals. There’s a difference. A very distinct difference. BeBe-shopping is a “want” that would interfere with my “need” to meet my financial goals and I’m perfectly content giving up that “want”.
SWAP MEET ANYONE?
Another shopping example involves a non-bougie friend of mine who recommends that I try shopping at thrift stores or flea markets. I haven’t brought myself to do this. My fake “need” is to have my clothes (cheap or not) be brand new and not “pre-owned” by others. That’s something I could reevaluate and decide if the savings could be worth a try……but I doubt it – what do you think?
What are some other examples where you can shift your fake “need” mindset to save yourself some money to put toward your financial goals? What are you paying for that you don’t really “need” to?
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Hah! This is hilarious but so true. Your perspective is so fresh Ana – keep up the good work. Love these posts and I’m broke phi broke so I need the tips lol
@ LoveBrownSugar: thanks for the support! I’m def going to have to keep it up – since I did launch a mass facebook marketing message and all lol.
Go Ana with ur bad self – words of wisdom sis, will def take heed.
Fake need = organic food. It’s not necessary plus I like my food genetically modified…seedless grapes anyone?
@SO – Great example! Companies are making a LOT of money on charging premium prices for so-called organic food, and according to ABC News, organic food isn’t even proven to be a healthier option…
@ Rach – thanks for stopping by sis! Glad you are finding use of the site. Make sure to stop by regularly! Trying to do big thangs over here!
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