@ajewelinhiscrown Everything comes down to how you feel about it . Basic needs are the needs that I need . Distinguishing between need and want is the basic stuff .. I know many of my friends spent 50 percent of their salaries but I almost saved 90 percent of it. I didnt do it consciously either .
I used to wonder am I doing something wrong . No I wasnt because I had all the things I need . Food, water , clothes , shelter .. good support . I used to be very contented . I have become more simpler and that's what others label me which means I wont invest in fancy watches or shoes or whatever . I still have so much clothes and every time I see my closet , I have the enough feeling .
Consumerism culture have took toll on this new world . Sometimes I used to compare me with others but I dont do this these days and I hav become contented with making my own choices .
When I dont eat to save money that's being stingy . If I eat or prepare my own food to save money it's not stingy . But if I want to prepare food when I m bedridden, fever or something , its stingy . Its depriving me . Because I would be tired and harming me by saving money .
If I go to state run healthcare for basic stuff, it's not stingy . But making myself to wait in long queues when I have serious health issue in government hospital especially if I have the money is stingy . Middle ground is to opt an insurance and spend for it rather than spending lakhs in private hospitals unprepared.
I dont invest in fancy watch or clothes unless it give me good return or quality. But if I need something really bad , I wouldn't hesitate to spend .
It's ok to save money . It's not ok to deny myself the basic needs . That's how I distinguish .
I also find no point in spending money to eat outside it's full of preservatives . My stomach doesn't feel right . But I do spend when my family is out of town and I dont have choice . But if I go out with others for dinner or if my friends come home, I do eat outside and dont make myself odd man out . My social need is much more important than my financial need .
I can give you lot of examples . There is no right or wrong answers . I make unique choices based on what I need . My income level have been varying a lot from being low income to high and middle . I just learnt to be flexible . I Give me choices and ask myself if I do something how would it make you feel and is it really a need ..
I do buy gifts for people I love and it makes me feel good . Sometimes openly tell me friends , this is my budget and you can buy anything you want for birthday within it or little extra . Lol . I do that as well .
