In life, there are luxuries then there are necessities. The true necessities are a certain level of food of appropriate nutritional value, health care, clothing, and shelter. But in a middle-class existence in a developed country, what we deem as “necessary” has a much broader scope than basic subsistence.
Here are several modern conveniences that have become necessities for my life:
- High-speed internet access ($20 per month): What would I do without reliable and speedy internet access? I don’t know. The internet isn’t set up at my current apartment yet, and it’s frustrating. That’s why high-speed internet is a nonnegotiable line item in my budget. I think there is a case to be made for internet access as a necessity as much as telephone is – communicating with family and friends, researching information, doing work from home, blogging all require access to the almighty information highway. I would also consider a personal computer a necessity.
- Cell phone @ free because on family plan: Given that my cell phone is my only phone, it’s definitely a necessity. Even if I had a land line, I wouldn’t feel comfortable venturing out without the cell phone on me. It’s funny how dependent I’ve come to be – I keep imaging what if I miss a really important call? Or what if I’m in a situation and I need help?
- AAA membership @ $50 a year: I just feel better to know there is one number I can call for help if my car breaks down. And with a car as old as mine, breaking down is a possibility that I can’t discount. For $50 a year, I get the peace of mind (and towing, and battery jumps) that AAA provides.
- Car and all related items (insurance, gas, maintenance) @ $400 a month: Maybe if I lived in another part of the country, I wouldn’t count a car as a necessity. But I live in Car Country, and I can’t go anywhere without a car. Public transportation is slow and unreliable, or too far away, or nonexistent. So I take good car of my Honda and hope it continues to take good car of me.
How about you? What do you look at in your budget and say, “but I need it!”
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It's funny, mine is pretty identical to yours.
I don't see internet as a luxury anymore. I would put it on the same list as food & bills. It's a MUST. Now with AAA membership. I have too. There was a time when I was in college where I didn't have it and I got a flat tire in the middle of my apartment and my parent's house (midday) and freaked out because I had no idea what to do. So I agree with you on the AAA. It's a security blanket.
Yeps. I've been really happy with my AAA and I got it as a gift for my boyfriend.
The first time I bought AAA cover, my car broke down two days later. In Phoenix. In August. I still get a nasty feeling in my stomach when I think about what would/could have happened if I hadn't had it. I agree with you – it's a necessary modern convenience for sure!
I'm with you on the Internet! I don't have a cell though (well, I do – I have one PAYG that's 10 years old now, and that I never cared about having in the first place).
Other things in my budget: Dining out a few times a month – this is a social activity with friends
Fitness classes (sure, I could just go outside to the park by myself, but I like my group classes!)
Computer (1 per person, since BF likes to play computer games all day).
Metropass (yes, theoretically I can walk to work, but I would have to leave the apartment earlier, and in crummy weather, I'm still going to pay for the transit).
Air conditioning.
If these necessities can also include learned future wants/necessities, then these fall in here:
A dishwasher. Our next apartment/home WILL have one. I am super tired of washing all dishes by hand!
Large kitchen. Again, this is a requirement for the next apartment! We don't have enough counter space, and if all dishes haven't been washed and put away, there is no where to prepare the next meal.
Agreed. I have a dishwasher in my new apartment and I am so excited.
I recently thought about this, in fact! I'll agree on the phone, internet, and car. I would also throw in:
- Paying for parking at work, because I work in one of the few neighborhoods in my city that has very limited parking, so I'd end up parking at least a 10 min walk away if I did park on the street, and even then there's times that you can't find a spot but you're running late and must make it to a first-thing meeting and OH GOD I can't take all of that drama. So I pay for parking. haha.
- FOOD. Sure, we all need food, but I do spend a significant amount more to buy a lot of organic, unprocessed food. The fact that the best stuff for you costs the most and the worst stuff is crazy cheap is a whole other rant that I won't get into here, but I do indeed choose to buy the $5 ketchup that has no sugar and is made from whole ingredients, and my budget has to fit that in.
- Looking put together at work. As nice as it sounds to just say "the world shouldn't judge me on how I look" I know that's no the reality we live in, so I do have to spend a lil here and there to wear nicer clothing to work. Of course, I do try and make sure that everything I buy can do double duty (work and home-wear) and I mostly only buy stuff on sale, but it's definitely an expense that I need to consider.
Your parking situation sounds stressful. I'd pay for parking in that situation too.
Air Conditioning (where I live it get to be 115 in the summer)
Internet
Laptop
My 2006 Toyota Corolla
Bi-weekly eyebrow waxing appointment(they grow back fast and thick lol)
115? Yikes! Heatstroke can be a real danger so AC is definitely a necessity.
I agree with the list 100%! I can't do without any of those things and I need to include a dishwasher (not only great for cleaning but also for storing dirty dishes so they don't pile up in the sink!)…and, like Emma's comment above, the fitness classes at my gym! Even if I only go 2x a week, it's my total "me" time that I love
My coffee, internet access, personal computer (though I guess I could use one at a library!), my bike, and AAA! I live in car country too, and it's really too bad that public transportation is just lousy, as are the lack of bike lanes. I guess all that suburban sprawl has made commuting a necessary evil. Perhaps in the future, our cities will get an update to incorporate better city planning. I can only hope!
My vehicle and the internet….more and more I'm thinking I could axe my cell phone though – I so don't use it very much anymore.
Internet, cell phone and all the sundries associated with my little car. These are MUSTs (although with the issues that Mr. Cash and I are having with our ISP, and the fact that both of us have iPhones now, the internet may be bumped off until we move).
I second the brow waxing – unruly eyebrows are the worst!
I'm not sure about this, but Ms. Fuzzy the cat sort of falls into the 'But I NEED it!' category. I don't need a cat (nobody needs a cat) – she's kind of usless, and she's expensive – but I like having her around. But now that she is around, all the little things required to keep her alive are necessities (food,litter, vets bills, etc).
where do you get internet service for 20 bucks a month? cool!
I second adding pets as 'I need it'. My little dog is a constant companion. She gets me walking, she cuddles, she makes me laugh… She's a personal trainer/therapist/comedian! Right now she's mega expensive due to current health issues, but maintenance on a 6 pound dog is pretty cheap.
What kind of dog do you have? I would love love love to get a dog.. unfortunately that's not possible right now.
Internet, TV, and gym. Though I'm reconsidering all three now that I'm traveling 4 days/week for work…
Internet. Cell phone. Mixer taps (ie, not separate hot/cold taps). Moisturiser. And to an extent, the microwave and our car.
I'm surprised at how short my list is!
internet at a fixed rate of $15/mo… my imac (paid for of course)…
You NEED insurance but we got rid of our AAA because our car company covered all roadside assistance. Having that is a necessity in my book and definitely leads to peace of mind if you have it.