One of the most basic concepts of economics is want vs. need.
What are they exactly?
A need is something you have to have, something you can't do without. A good example is food. If you don't eat, you won't survive for long. Many people have gone days without eating, but they eventually ate a lot of food.
You might not need a whole lot of food,
but you do need to eat.
A want is
something you would like to have. It is not absolutely
necessary, but it would be a good thing to have. A good example is music. Now,
some people might argue that music is a need because they
think they can't do without it. But you don't need music to survive. You do
need to eat.
These are general categories, of course. Some categories have
both needs and wants. For instance, food could be a need or a want, depending
on the type of food.
You need to eat protein, vitamins, and
minerals. How you get them is up to you (and your family). You can eat meat,
nuts, or soy products to get protein. You can get fruits and vegetables to get
vitamins and minerals. You can eat yogurt or cheese to get other vitamins and
minerals. You can eat bread to get still more vitamins and minerals. These
basic kinds of foods are needs.
Ice cream is a want. You don't really need to eat ice
cream to survive. You can eat it to get some vitamins and minerals, but other
foods like cheese and yogurt give you more of those same vitamins and minerals
without giving you the fat that ice cream does. Still, ice cream tastes good to
many people. They like to eat it. They want it,
but they don't need it. They like it, but they don't
have to have it to survive.
OK, we've covered food. What other kinds of things does your body
need to survive?
Another example is liquid. Your body has to have liquid to
survive. Water is a good liquid to drink because it keeps you healthy. Milk and
fruit juice are also good because they give you vitamins and minerals your body
needs without giving you the fat and excess sugar found in cola. Still, cola
tastes good. Drink a Pepsi or Coke or Mountain Dew or Sprite and you feel good
because it tastes good. But you don't need that
cola to survive.
Now, see the difference between need and want?
-Ivan Kon
So let's say you are a Youtube Vlogger. As a vlogger you need a camera to be able to record everything to upload your vlog. But let's say you are a Youtube partner and you earn money from the views your video gets. Is it a need to just use any camera or do you need or want a better camera that is specially made for vlogging for your Youtube account?
ReplyDeleteIn life, you need three basic things which are Food,Shelter and Clothings. Wants is something that even if you don't have, you won't die out of it.
ReplyDeleteIn your case, it is still a want and the camera is your top priority in your wants lists. If you can afford to delay buying the item, substitute something less expensive, or to use something you already own,then it is a want.
In the end it depends your choice. If it is necessary to get a better one, by all means proceed.