Needs vs Wants when Unemployed

“What this country needs are more unemployed politicians”
-Edward Langley

There's a clever blog at "Fabulously Broke in the City" about the conflict over wants versus needs.

A couple I know is in dire straits. They just simply can’t find a job. He’s applied everywhere, and there are no takers, even for being a waiter or a delivery guy. However, when you hear about their budget ... they have:

• 1 landline telephone
• 1 basic cellphone
• 1 full-plan Blackberry cellphone
• Fully-loaded cable TV
• Fully-loaded internet service
• 2 cars
• going to Pizza Hut weekly

The blogger then corrects the "budget" as follows:

• 1 landline telephone
• 1 basic cellphone
• 1 full-plan Blackberry cellphone
• Fully-loaded basic cable TV (if at all)
• Fully-loaded basic internet service (if at all)
• 2 1 cars
• going to Pizza Hut weekly

Bottom Line

Hard times call for hard choices. Yes the internet is so useful, especially for job searches, but there's free internet at some libraries. Go with open air digital TV, not cable. Sacrifice the comfort items so there's still money for the essentials like food and rent. When the money returns with a new job, then bring the comfort items back.