How easy is it to tell needs from wants if you reside in a land of plenty (such as the US, Canada, the UK or places with all the modern creature comforts)?

I personally don’t know of a person (rural Midwest) that gives a thought to their needs. Food, shelter and clothing are a given, it’s the grade that they want that is in question and is cause for dissatisfaction.

A woman that I know who lives in a 3 bedroom, single family dwelling, drives a late model car and had one of the best paying blue collar jobs in the area once asked me, “Do you ever wonder why? Why there are people out there living in million dollar mansions and we got stuck here, working crappy jobs?”

I pointed out to her that there was a woman somewhere living in a tin shack wondering why she couldn’t have a 3 bedroom house, a car of her own and a job. Then, of course, there’s the woman living without shelter, wondering why she can’t have a nice tin house.

It’s all relative, and nearly no one in the industrialized world appreciates what they have, or distinguish between want and need.

Excellent question!
It’s funny you ask it because I just got in an argument with someone about this. He said that because we’re in America we have a right to indulge. He said he is only worried about himself and wants what is best for himself, so he said he could care less about anyone in underdeveloped countries. (verbatim: “Fuck the people in Africa.”)
I don’t think this person is alone on his thinking. Exactly what @ibstubro said. People don’t have to even think about needs. It’s all wants.
Personally, I feel like I’m alone on this issue. I have a low standard for what I deem are necessities. I have very little material things and I buy for quantity. I still think I’m spoiled. It sickens me how people are so spoiled, yet they don’t even realize it. It sickens me that people take hour-long showers. It sickens me when people throw away perfectly edible food. And it sickens me to see people throw away loads of money on selfish consumer products. Why do people think this is okay and why isn’t there anything I can do about it? Why does it seem like I’m the only person who has a problem with the way my community is running? I feel like my thinking is erroneous somewhere because nobody seems to think the same way as I do.

It’s getting easier lately as the disparity between the rich and the poor gets greater.
When 47% of homeless people are working I’m sure they are honing in pretty well on the difference between wants and needs.

@dxs You are not alone, hence the asking of this question.

Will I die without it? No? I don’t need it then.

I don’t think you can in that environment. I spent six weeks in a village in the mountains of Laos that had no electricity and no plumbing, and it changed my world view. Sadly, it wears off eventually.

Flint and stone tools are needs. No one needs copper axes and chisels—they’re just wants!

In my community, having a car is a necessity since there is no public transportation, and it’s too far to walk anywhere. Homelessness is “illegal” and the police do a very thorough job of making the lives of our 40,000 homeless pure misery. So having a roof over your head is a necessity. Likewise utilities such as electricity and water. All of these things require a job to pay for it. You get the idea…

The needs are satisfied when additional convenience no longer increases well-being and overall life satisfaction. Luxury doesn’t create more happiness long term.

@snowberry In my community, having a car is a necessity since there is no public transportation, and it’s too far to walk anywhere.
If a vehicle is a necessity to travel because it is too far to walk or bike, is it a necessity that the vehicle have GPS, BlueTooth, burl wood trim, leather seats, power and heated seats, Bose speakers, chrome wheels, power mirrors, cruise control, flip down DVD, an MP3 jack, etc? If the vehicle got from point A to point B without all of that stuff it would suffice? Which of those are wants and which is necessary for the vehicle to be road worthy?

@Hypocrisy_Central Absolutely. All I need is transportation. I’m thinking of getting a bicycle for those odd trips to the grocery.

@snowberry I’m thinking of getting a bicycle for those odd trips to the grocery.
GOOD FOR YOU! <big hugs> :-D Too bad too many of us are not making the effort to do the same, even while we moan our planet is going to pot.