Understanding Needs and Wants

What is a need? What is a want?

You are thirsty and decide to have an iced tea. Your thirst is a ________ and your choice of iced tea is a ________.

What is a need? This means something like air, food, or shelter that is necessary for survival. It is more important than wants.

What is a want? This means the things we wish we could have.

Understanding Needs and Wants

Need: A need is something that is essential for survival and well-being. It is a basic requirement that must be fulfilled in order to live a healthy life. Needs are necessary for sustaining life and maintaining a certain level of comfort and health.

For example, in the scenario of being thirsty, your thirst is a need because your body requires water to function properly. Water is essential for hydration and maintaining bodily functions.

Want: A want, on the other hand, is something that is desirable but not necessary for survival. It is a preference or a wish for something that would enhance your life or bring enjoyment, but you can still live without it.

In the same scenario, choosing to have an iced tea to quench your thirst is a want. While the iced tea may be refreshing and satisfying, it is not essential for survival like water is.

It's important to distinguish between needs and wants in order to prioritize and make decisions based on what is essential for your well-being and what is simply a desire or luxury.