This article on Yahoo questions these 12 new necessities above the stereotyped 4 wall - food, shelter, clothes, and water, although I consider transportation the 4th wall.  The article suggests that these 12 items are ”entitlements” or ”wants” and should be scaled back.  The article suggests that a simpler lifestyle is better.  In some ways  I agree, but not in others I have to shake my head in wonder who lives this lifestyle?  Where does the writer live that these things are necessities?

First give up the daily latte.  I don’t even drink coffee, so it’s not an issue.  I don’t know many who actually do drink starbucks daily, maybe occasionally, but daily?  Sure give it up, it’s cheaper to make your own or drink your work coffee (that’s what DH does).  Besides, whose got the time to keep going out to get coffee?

Second - drop cable tv.  Not a bad idea, but if you don’t do netflix or blockbuster, it’s the same price as cable tv, $20/month.  So you can either watch movies or watch tv.  If you drop both and live without either then you’ll be rolling in the savings.  I’ve lived without both and honestly I still watched what few channels I got, but I lived alone and liked the background noise.

Third - weekly manicures/pedicures.  I don’t know anyone who gets weekly manicures/pedicures.  I do get them for special occassions and know many people do but regularly?  Again I wonder if this is a bit over the top, and what percentage of people actually spend the money weekly?

Fourth - Botox?  Okay, again I don’t know people with regular Botox habits.  Either I’m surrounded by young people or people just don’t care enough to pay for it.  According to articles only while there were many regular users, the actual number of people using botox was very low, not exactly a typical budget line item.

Fifth - bottled water.  Okay this I admit a lot of people drink bottled water.  I’d like to think many use filters and many do drink tap water.  But the estimated savings is $25-40/month, not huge but pennies either.  So maybe we should drink regular water.

Sixth - second car.  Apparently this is a luxury in today’s world.  Gotta say I can’t disagree more.  Some families need 2 cars when they work in two opposite directions like my neighbors.  Unfortunately where they live is midway between the two jobs. And more unfortunately is there is no public transit where they work.  One of them did use the bus and didn’t have a car, until her job moved and then there was no public transit.  I have to say, maybe a better want is “new, luxury” vehicle is not necessary but a second vehicle can absolutely be a necessity.  Even as poor graduate students in 2 cities 120 miles apart, DH and I needed two cars if we wanted to see each other.  And renting would have been very expensive every weekend and sometimes during the week.

Seventh - cell phone.  Nope not a luxury, many of my friends no longer have landlines.  They are completely and solely cell phone users.  It’s more convenient than having a home phone. One could argue home phones are passe instead of a cell phone bill.  Maybe a 4 year old doesn’t need a cell phone, but you can’t argue that many people do need regular cell phones and not prepaid cells.  I use mine way more than our home phone and it’s more convenient to use.

Eigth - Lawn Service.  Good argument that it can be done during weekends and time off.  But maybe the person wants to spend time with family instead of doing household chores?   But it is a good money saver if you even have lawn service. In my neighborhood, the only lawn service is the 2-family house rented out, because the landlord has to hire people or else the renters complain.  Everyone else on my street does it themselves.

Nine - Clothes, we have more clothes than we need.  True, not buying clothes would help.  But what about those who already shop thrift and second hand?

Ten - Private school for kids. This one I’m not touching, I think parents have a right to choose to do it or not.  And for some they do it for religious reasons.  Nuff said.

Eleven - Childhood Parties are over the top.  Gotta agree.  But who does this? I’ve never been to a big birthday yet, but I don’t have kids.  And all kids parties I’ve gone too have been bbq for the parents to socialize mostly.  I haven’t seen over the top stuff yet, but maybe parents can weigh in?  Again is this another money saver most people don’t spend on?

Finally number twelve money saver - pet grooming and walking.  I am an avid pet owner and I do mostly shave our Bichons ourselves. But after a weekend kennel we do tend to just pay them to do it.  And since I’ve been a true blue dog owner, and I know many owners, rescue groups, etc.  MOST people do not have dog walkers.  So this is NOT a typical budget line item.

I don’t get where this author came up with these new “necessities”.  A lot of these I don’t think are applicable to the average population. But maybe I don’t have friends who do all these things.  Thank god.  But still are these real behaviors of average people? 

Do people even have these 12 items in their budget to begin with????