There is an article on Yahoo Finance, 10 Things We Can’t Live Without, that named off the surprising American ”necessities” even in the face of unemployment or just a tough economy in general. Here’s their list and my take on it:
1. Portable computers – I understand needing a computer for job applications, but I don’t understand it needing to be portable. Normally a laptop is the inexpensive choice, but in our case, we have two laptops and a regular comp as well. If one of the laptops die, it would suck, but if we were fiscally stressed, I’d just use the other computers around the house.
2. High-speed Internet access – I do actually consider this very important for job hunting. Also, most of our financial lives are kept up with online as well as my blog. It would probably be my last bill to cut.
3. Smart phones – Hubby and I don’t have these. I just can’t justify the extra monthly expense. Don’t get me wrong, they’d probably be awesome, but not necessary.
4. Education – I’d understand finding the money for education to help myself find a job, but I don’t understand continuing paying for your kid’s college classes when you are on the brink of financial disaster. Isn’t that a perfect time for your kid to rely on scholarships, grants, part-time jobs, and student loans?
5. Movies – This made me sigh…if we were broke, we wouldn’t be going to the movies. If I just had to have a movie fix, I might be persuaded to splurge $1.50 at the discount theater down the street…maybe. If you really have a deep movie addiction, I’d suggest Netflix or Redbox before theaters (we have been happy Netflix members on and off for 6 years).
6. TV – My husband agrees that keeping cable is pretty important to him since it’s a comparably cheaper form of entertainment. It would be cut in dire financial circumstances but that’s about it.
7. Music downloads – Even though I do own an Ipod (thanks Mom), I have yet to pay for a music download. Mr. BFS burned all my CD’s into my Ipod and I haven’t added anything else except for ebooks from the library.
8. Pets – Our dogs would be the last thing to go, but they would go if it were a choice between homelessness and pets. Of course, we have family and friends that we could depend on, so I doubt this could ever be an issue.
9. Booze – I barely spend $100 a year on alcohol as it is…it would not be a problem to give it up completely.
10. Coffee – I love the smell but cannot stand the bitter taste. Mr. BFS can tolerate it, but doesn’t drink it more than once or twice a year. Coffee is definitely not one of our normal expenses.
Would these 10 things be the last thing on your list of stuff to go?
1. Portable computers –
I don’t have or want one. No need for it. I prefer desktops.
2. High-speed Internet access-
I have 1MBPS DSL. slowest available. And low cost. beats dial-up. Cable speeds are great but too expensive.
3. Smart phones –
To me a smart phone is one that makes and receives calls. I liked the days when this is all a phone did, and it’s all we bought them for.
4. Education –
it’s important to learn. But going in debt for it? Not a good idea. And a college degree does not guaranteed a good paying job.
5. Movies –
I watch few movies.
6. TV –
I watch little TV.
7. Music downloads –
I do enjoy this, and audio books also.
8. Pets –
Love pets but don’t have any mainly because of cost… and time caring for them.
9. Booze –
I keep none in the house or I may be tempted to drink too often …. I like a cold beer every now and then but I’ve cut back. And I lost 37 pounds!
10. Coffee –
Love the smell but rarely drink it
With the exception of the computer and high-speed internet, I could live without the rest of them. But it wouldn’t have to be portable (although our current computer is a laptop). I do LOVE my iPhone but I could live without it if I was not in the financial position to continue paying for the data plan.
My wife and I rarely go to the movies; more often we rent something or just watch one of the few we own. We rarely turn the TV on throughout the week. I do buy some music online and would probably buy more if we were not paying off debt. Plus they are cheaper than CDs and do not take up space!
We do not have any pets and probably will not until we have children (we’ll wait until they ask for one). We drink on occasion but do not have much alcohol in the house. We drink coffee less than once a month. I think we are on our second can of coffee since we got married – four years ago!
I am a minimalist. If I were unemployed and had to prioritize, I would need internet, any computer and maybe tv/cable. I don’t really drink alcohol or coffee, don’t have a pet now, rarely go to movies.
Regarding education, I don’t know if they meant you need an education in general, or that is something you should spend on. If I were unemployed and could get student loans, I probably would go to school if I were ‘unemployable’. It would be exactly what I did for college in the first place. Regarding my kids, I plan on helping them as much as I can for college, but if we get unemployed, they are going to have to shoulder the responsibility.
Financial Bondage and Rob, I guess you just aren’t the “average” American consumers…feels pretty good, huh?
As someone who fills in her evenings with dinner, tv, and blogging, what do you two do without the tv on during the weekdays? I read a lot at night, but don’t really enjoy it when I first get home from work…
everyday tips, they were referring to paying for kids’ college expenses when they said education. That surprised me…my parents would cut off my sisters in a nano-second if they couldn’t afford to help…
The only thing I would not part with is a pet. Pets become a part of the family and I would do anything in my power to save my pet, as I would the rest of the family. But Fido would have to make just as many sacrifices as the rest of the family, LOL.
However, the rest of this list is absolutely LUDACRIS! None of these things are a necessity–none! Computers and internet can be used at a public library. If one is already out of work, would it kill him to walk to the neighborhood library to use the computer and internet for a job search. I would actually venture to say the act of traveling to the library would make him more accountable. Sometimes we tend to get too laxed with completing work related tasks from the comfort of our own home.
The fact that our society considers these things necessities, even in tough economic times explains why our nation is in its current financial condition.
Daughter ‘needs’ Netflix and downloading tunes;
DH ‘needs’ wine, beer, and sports (tv), his 2 police dogs (1 retired);
I ‘need’ HS internet, my laptop, coffee, wine, beer;
Only thing we don’t ‘need’ is a smartphone, but that’s sure to be coming (UGH!).
I could do without most of these things except high speed internet, pets, and coffee. I don’t own a TV (I know, it’s freaky), I’m a faithful Netflix subscriber (and I do love Redbox, too) so my movie fix is quenched, I own a smartphone, but rarely use it, I like beer but could go without (my hubby would disagree with this one
). I could almost live life in a tent with a few of these things, I’m set!
Young Mogul, I agree that none of these things are absolute needs, but a computer and internet are way more helpful if you have constant access. Our “neighborhood” library is 8 miles away, so we would have to drive and their hours would mean having limited usage except during the day and half days on weekends. It’s doable, but it would be an absolute last resort that I never see happening. Great for books, bad for job hunting.
I did actually laugh out loud at the smart phone though. I can see loving smart phones, but it would be like my first bill to cut if I owned one and needed money…
Holly, I understand your family “needs”. My husband “needs” cable and DVR. We both “need” a computer and the internet and our dogs. Everything else I could say goodbye to if necessary and even those “needs” would go if we were both unemployed (my in-laws would happily take my dogs…).
Little House, just so you can get a laugh, I was sitting here for a solid 60 seconds wondering how the hell you watch Netflix and Red Box movies without a tv…yes, it took me that long to realize you only watch on your computer.
Your minimalist lifestyle both impresses and astounds me…now I have “Material Girl” stuck in my head…
Maybe this is a funny joke yahoo tries to play on its readers. As far as I am concerned, only #4 (education) is something I cannot live without.
Oh, how could I forget education? It’s our highest annual expense ($20,000/yr. for 3 kids)!
BFS – I suppose you are right that we aren’t “average” Americans since apparently the numbers indicate that people are continuing to consume all of those items. However, I’m a little wary about some of the statistics. Although smartphone sales are going up, that does not mean they will continue to go up (although the new iPhone is selling like hotcakes).
Anyway, it does seem odd to me how so many people are unemployed and complaining about the economy and yet there are record sales of this and that and the other.
Wow… that’s pretty darned horrifying. No wonder most Americans are in debt up to their eyeballs! I think my list would be something like food, shelter, clean drinking water, clothing and access to health care!
I’ve never had a laptop… the desktop works just fine for me.
I do have high speed internet, but since I work online I consider it mostly a business expense.
To be honest… I don’t really know what a “smart phone” is. We have the old fashioned kind with a cord. I do have a pre-paid cellular phone that I keep just in case the car breaks down or something.
Education… well, I’ve got a bachelor’s degree, but if I had it to do over again I’m not sure I would go the same route… especially with the ridiculous debt that seems to come with a college education these days! The most marketable skills that I possess (computer programming, graphic design, web design, etc.) I taught myself.
Movies. We have Netflix, but never, ever pay the ridiculous prices to go to see something in a theater.
TV – We did buy a nice big TV to watch DVD’s, but decided to cancel the cable subscription a few months back because it just wasn’t wort it. Honestly… I don’t miss it at all! I watched the local news last night just for the weather and was horrified by the really unhealthy messages in those commercials. How did we ever tolerate that on a nightly basis?!?
I think I’ve downloaded a total of 3 songs in my life… Don’t have an MP3 player, so I don’t see the point.
Pets. OK, our 3 cats are often what makes life worth living so they would have to be one of my very top priorities. I believe we spend more money feeding them than feeding ourselves! So in our household there’s no cutting corners where our babies are concerned!
Booze – Um… the occasional bottle of wine and some Irish Cream Liqueur for the holidays, but nothing we couldn’t live without
Coffee – We buy one small bag once every 4-5 years and that seems to do fine. It helps to knock out migraine headaches, but otherwise who can stomach that stuff on a daily basis!
Gotta wonder what starving people in Bangladesh would say about our list of necessities!
The dog. Absolutely the dog. She costs less than any of those other things. Plus she keeps me from going stark raving bonkers, and since health insurance doesn’t do much to cover mental health care, that probably represents a large savings.
Had to give up coffee, in the “bonkers” department…otherwise that would be one of the last to go.
I use the Internet in what passes for my work, and so it would have to stay. However, I don’t have cable TV and don’t have cell phones, and so my “communication” costs are pretty low, comparatively.
One through three are the only ones I consider worth keeping.
1. Portable computers – I wouldn’t need a portable computer, but we have many so this would not be a new purchase or anything.
2. High-speed Internet access – I do need this. I either will need it to get jobs as I am in a tech field that sometimes does job exams over the internet, or I will need it to find jobs. Some of those sites would take forever to load on dialup.
3. Smart phones – We have these. Not a necessity, though. It’s just nice to have although hubby and I don’t really use all the features all the time. My little brother is on my plan and uses 1 GB of data a month. It’s good that we’re on an unlimited data plan, huh?
4. Education – I don’t know about this one. If I really couldn’t pay for it, I’d have my kid take out a loan.
5. Movies – Netflix, Hulu, and free Redbox codes. There is no way I’m going to the movies with a one year old and an infant. NO way.
6. TV – We have limited basic cable because it ends up cheaper than getting internet without it. However, the coaxial cable is not even connected. We rarely turn on the TV.
7. Music downloads – Nope, not even a factor in our life. We have 2 ipods. One I won from a drawing, one I traded in points for. I’m too lazy to add music to them so … we don’t even have itunes installed on the current iterations of our computers.
8. Pets – No pets. Don’t care for them, much. Other than a pet plant I get every once in a while. But if I’ve got other things to do, that plant better fend for itself.
9. Booze – We spent $144 for 12 bottles of wine back in 2007. We still have 10 bottles left. This included cracking one bottle open today to cook and drink.
10. Coffee – We both hate it. I thought for sure this was going to be soda, which we both dislike, too.
I don’t think my hubby and I are the average consumer.
1. Portable computers – I have a laptop, it’s my only computer it’s a 2006 dell and it works fine
2. High-speed Internet access – isn’t that what work is for? and free wifi at the library?
3. Smart phones – I have an Iphone, i would say it’s costing me about $30/month more than my dumb phone did but it has helped me get more organised, and means I don’t have internet at home because I can do my banking on the phone. I also track my spending with it. So while it’s not the smartest financial desision it hasn’t been the dumbest.
4. Education – I have a degree, the government pays most of it here in Aus, only cost me $32k and you get an “interest free loan” (the amount you owe is indexed to inflation), and you don’t have to pay it back until you earn more than $40,000. Unless you need your degree for a job (medicine, engineering etc) don’t do it. Your arts degree is a waste of money.
5. Movies – I buy them second hand and resell them on ebay
6. TV – We have free to air tv thats it
7. Music downloads – I pod cast alot does that count?
8. Pets – We adopted 2 they are awesome personalities to have around the home.
9. Booze – I love booze!!! Screw all you haters! I make my own though cost’s me 10 cents per bottle vs $3-4 here.
10. Coffee – I would IV coffee into my arm if i could! Delicious Delious coffee! I never buy coffee though I’m not paying someone for a Grande something. I actually like COFFEE not milk and sugar. Order to self Coffee black please.
I still do not own a cellphone. Don’t need it. That about sets the stage for everything else.
I think … lets be honest … yes, it would suck without the bells and whistles of life, but could be “make it” without them? My vote is “Yes!” we could.
I believe even “creatures of habit(s)” can and will change, if the need arises, like if one were in a layoff. We don’t have cable. We don’t watch regularly programmed TV when it comes out. We do have NetFlix (luv’ NetFlix) but could do without it IF .. if we had to. The internet would also be a tuffy to do without … news and weather. And eBay shopping .. how else would I have bought the things I’ve managed to snag over the years and for cheap (o eBay).
Recently finding out I was type 2 Diabetic … I used to brew beer, drink (minimally) alcohol like Margarita’s et al. on weekends. Since finding out about the type 2 I haven’t had a single drink or want for one (7-8 months now). that’s odd too, no craving, nothing. We can change. Plus, the money saved is great and goes straight to savings or some other place that can be used in a more efficient way.
I’d have to say the Internet is the one big thing I would really miss, because it takes care of so many other things I’d not be able to do (on the I’net).
And NetFlix has streaming (over the internet) TV shows if we need to watch something, commercial free. Just HATE the commercials and all the other BS in programmed TV. 1 hr. show. 20+ min’s of baloney scattered inbetween. No wonder people switch channels so much … nothing’s on. And much cheaper than Cable &/or Satellite.
Wife has a cellphone but only for calling her mom or me, or any possible emergencies.
That’s it.
I’m pretty frugal, almost all of the above I can do without (except the high speed internet and a computer of some sort, not necessarily a mobile one). Heck, the library in my city has computer access there too, so if I were really desperate… I wouldn’t even need that either. I would need a jumpdrive though
Money Obedience, as a shameless consumer, I can assure you this is not a joke (well, maybe the smart phone was…).
Holly, I think my baby meter is in the negatives right now, lol. $20,000 a year!? Sheesh. You are a great mom. Seriously.
Rob, the article was probably inflamatory, but I do think people drive themslves into debt with crap.
Benjamin Bankruptcy, thanks for making me laugh! I’ll make you a deal…you keep your booze and coffee and I’ll keep my cable and Netflix, lol.
Rebecca the Greeniac, it seems there is always someone better off. The people of Bangladesh probably think even the most frugal of us are wasteful. I’m a major consumer comparably to most of my readers apparently, but there are people even more spend-happy than me…it’s all just a sliding scale.
Funny about Money, that’s a good point on pets…I have never needed to pay for therapy. I can just sit down and cry and my dogs come sit in my lap and lay their heads on my legs…it’s a different kind of therapy.
Julie, my pet plants have to be VERY resilient too…the only one that has survived me so far is the bamboo sprig that needs water every 10-15 days.
ODWO, the no cell phone thing made my eyes bug out. I’m so addicted to mine. Good on you for having one less leash.
I know that I can change, I just don’t want to…DVR has eliminated commercials from my life (well, hubby and I laugh at the Old Spice Guy), Netflix provides streaming movies, and the internet keeps my attention most of the day. All of these things help me out Monday-Thursday evenings when I’m too grumpy to go out in public. I actually do detach myself from all my electronics for the weekends (for the most part…).
Money Reasons, I’m just being contrary, but do you really “need” a jumpdrive? Hahaha.
This is not at all what I expected to see on the list. Electricity and Heat was what I expected. Transportation also came to mind. For some in rural areas, a car is a must, but for others, a bike or public transport may be ok. I think these lists are useless unless they target a certain demographic.
For me, car would be last to go, second to the last would be computer and internet access. I could still do the library like others said. If push came to shove, I could probably slice my expenses by 2/3 or more of what they are now. (1/3 being daycare)
Sandy L, when I first looked at the article, I also thought it was going to have things like electricity, a/c, and maybe even cell phones or a phone service of some type…I wasn’t expecting to see Smart Phones, lol.
We could cut our expenses by a bunch too, but I think the fun stuff is important if you can afford it and savings at the same time.
I personally don’t have a portable computer (except at work) or a smart phone and I don’t really drink much of any alcohol. Movies and movie downloads are things I can easily live without.
High speed internet and TV are high on my list of things I wouldn’t want to give up. I have a slight caffeine addiction and couldn’t see voluntarily quitting coffee. I wouldn’t want to give up my pets either.
I think “can’t live without” is exaggeration in all respects here.
Jim, I agree…the list was probably more of a “Things We Don’t Want to Live Without”. I agree with your summary as well…well, except for keeping coffee, lol.
This post was fun! I would love a “smart phone:” definitely a want not a need. Even though I can afford it, I choose not to pay for it because there are other things of higher priority for our spending. I agree w/ Mr. BFS re cable, don’t get me started, I love TV. Trust me, alcohol is NOT A NECESSITY. I prefer to receive it as a gift. hint hint
Barb, I agree that a smart phone would be kind of cool, but unnecessary none-the-less. You are spot on about priorities…cable beats smart phone any day of the week.
BFS and Barb I’m gonna have to disagree with you on the smartphone vs. cable discussion. I have an iPhone (no I didn’t stand in line for it…it is a 3GS not the new iPhone 4) and I LOVE it. However we do not have cable and get by just fine. A smartphone of any kind is definitely more of a want than a need, but it is amazing how much I can do with the thing…I can even use it for bloggging!
Rob, okay, so we all agree that smart phones AND cable are just wants.
I simply know that I rather use my laptop in front of my tv with cable and DVR than use a smart phone. I know that’s because I’m used to my laptop and cable, so you are probably used to a smart phone and no cable.
So, we’ll put Rob in the smart phone group and Barb and I will be too spaced out on our shows to notice.
Hi Rob & BFS, I had to come back to this discussion…. too interesting to stop. It really highlights that each of us makes personal choices on our spending that we believe gives us the most value-and that’s one of the most important keys to “smart spending.” Spend money on what gives YOU the most value!
Barb, I think that’s exactly right…everyone’s priorities will be different, they key is making sure you spend based on them. That gets lost in the mix sometimes…
Portable computer – I needed a laptop for school, but got a great education discount.
DSL – yep, that’s a necessity. I can do schoolwork from home at any hour instead of wasting time at the school computer labs, which close early. I also use it to keep up on news, watch streaming video, etc. Plus I do PC repairs for people so I need it to get updates and patches.
Smartphones – I just want my mobile to be a phone – something to make calls on or to get the occasional text from friends. That’s it. The computer does everything else.
Education – free tuition because I work full-time at a university! All I pay for are fees & books (cheap from Amazon, forget the college bookstore)
Movies – Netflix once or twice a month does it
TV – dropped cable because I hate reality TV and sports, and there’s nothing else on cable. I invested $200 in a 19″ HD digital TV and another $30 for an antenna, and I get the local channels for free.
Music downloads – I might spend $15 or $20 a year on iTunes but that’s it
Pets – my cat is my best friend – he’s worth it
Booze – a six-pack of beer lasts me six months, and a bottle of Gallo chablis for cooking lasts about three
Coffee – everything in moderation – I love Starbucks but only go every two or three weeks as a treat
@M, I loved my educational discounts when I was in college! I remember buying Microsoft XP for $37. It was an awesome time. I’d drop cable if it wasn’t for USA and TNT and the Discovery Channel…I’m an addict, plus I love DVR.
Wow, you are like the 100th cat lover I’ve seen online recently. They much kick butt.
Sounds like you have a solid head on your student shoulders. Good luck on your pursuits!!!
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