Needs vs. Wants
Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way ~ Les Brown
As consumers we are challenged by our wants versus our needs on a daily basis. With every turn down the aisle at your nearest retailer we are faced with clever merchandising techniques to entice us into impulse purchases. The latest styles, always a little different than last year, are around every corner.
The retail industry is very good at stacking out piles and piles of the latest items. 
An old retail phrase says “Stack it high and watch it fly!”. Unfortunately, more often than not, being the unsuspecting consumers that we are, we fall into these traps all the time. Retailers spend hours carefully merchandising their aisles with “seed items” to lure you into the department to only walk out with more and more items.
Every day we are confronted with a constant barrage of snappy advertising gimicks. Retailers now use in-store signing that is more confrontational. “Want It! Need It! Gotta Have It!” are some of the loud phrases used to pressure you into thinking you have to purchase something. The message here is that you must make a purchase because everyone else is certainly buying this particular item. You don’t want to be left out.
As consumers, we fall into these traps willingly. The social pressures on everyone to have the best clothes and the latest gadgets are enormous. I always thought that once I was out of high school, some of the pressure to dress just right would be gone. Nope. It only seems to get worse and the gadgets become more expensive! As everyone walks around work with iPhones stuck on their belt loops, you can’t help but think of getting one the next time your contract is up. The sleek design and smart leather carrying cases are beguiling.
The problem is that, as consumers, we have lost track of the difference between our wants and our needs. A “need” may be defined as 1) a condition or situation where something is required, 2) a necessity or obligation or 3) a physiological or psychological requirement for the well-being of an organism. A ”want” may be defined as 1) to desire greatly or wish for or 2) to have an inclination toward.
Keeping this in mind, are there some strategies for consumers to help us sort out our shopping habits? Fundamental to this is the consumer’s awareness of a want versus a need. A need is something that you require such as food, shelter, water. A want is, quite simply everything else.
As a consumer, the best way to be prepared to face retail merchandising pressures is to be aware of retail tactics. 
Plan out your shopping trips carefully and make a shopping list. Planning ahead of time and coming up with a budget for your shopping trips will make you more aware and therefore, more resistant to the temptations that lie ahead.
Limiting the number of trips to the mall or big box retailer will also help you by allowing yourself enough time to think about purchases. Think about the item. Is it something you need? Or something you want? By postponing larger purchases, you may come up with an alternative by reusing or repurposing something you already own.
Finally, what if you feel you have a firm grasp on these concepts, but want to take the next step and do more? Consider challenging yourself to a “buy nothing” month. Details on a challenge just like this are found in this issue of the footprint. If a month doesn’t seem like a big enough challenge, try for 6 months or a full year. Remember to set realistic goals for youself. Write down your ideas and come up with a plan and goals for yourself.
In today’s bustling world, the pressures on you to spend money are great. Being aware of what is really needed versus want you only want is something too many of us have lost track of. Challenge yourself to do better by becoming more aware of your shopping habits and the temptations that are all around us as we enter a retail store. Changing your shopping habits is a great way to return to a simpler way of life free of social pressures. Along the way you will rediscover those things that are truely important are the little, everyday things that are already in our homes and lives.