Establishing NEED's versus WANT's

"You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need" - The Rolling Stones

Many consumers like to fly by the seat of their pants. Having a basic idea of what they need & want, and deciding how much they are willing to pay for it.

Each vehicle may offer certain features that you may like to have but could probably live without if you had to. Your willingness should not supersede your actual NEED.

You can't will your way out of a car payment.don't will your way into one. 

Leather seats, moon roof, power windows & seats, alloy wheels, a spoiler and so forth.

These items may add a certain cosmetic appeal to the car of interest, but they are still considered luxuries that also add to the price tag of the vehicle. You'll find (as many of our members do) that what you need and what you want may not always go hand and hand.

Some examples to consider:

As a parent: you might want to ask yourself if you are more comfortable with leather seats to ease your nerves, or having the kids enjoy a peaceful ride while watching a DVD. Both add a sense of comfort to your driving experience. Which is more valuable to you?

• As a single person: you may want your vehicle to bring you status, but how often are you in your car when you meet people?
• As a commuter: the interior function, gas mileage and safety should be your first consideration. Start there, and then add your wants.
  

All we're trying to express here is to slow down and think things through.

Why buy a vehicle equipped with a tow package if you have nothing to tow? You don't have to waste money on things you really don't need (as it happens every day).

 

FORCE yourself to define the difference between your needs (i.e., A/C, automatic transmission, ABS, air bags, etc.) versus the items you really want to have (i.e., leather seats, power moon roof, DVD, wheels upgrades, etc...).

You may find that some (or all) of the items that want ARE within your budget, in addition to the things you need .

Wouldn't it be better to know this information at the start of your potential purchase, before falling in love with certain options and amenities (only to be frustrated when you realize you really can't afford them- or worse, over-extend yourself to have them)?

We all want to reward ourselves with luxury items, but you can live without certain amenities if you had to.

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