Comments on: Focus on needs, not products http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/ The Wesabe blog Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:37:20 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: A coffee pot is not an "investment" « Wesabe: Your Money. Your Community. http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4724 A coffee pot is not an "investment" « Wesabe: Your Money. Your Community. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:08:12 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4724 [...] pot is not an "investment" By Marc Hedlund Last week, I wrote a post called “Focus on needs, not products,” that talked about a way to save money by thinking differently: focus on what you need your [...] [...] pot is not an "investment" By Marc Hedlund Last week, I wrote a post called “Focus on needs, not products,” that talked about a way to save money by thinking differently: focus on what you need your [...]

]]> By: CPA Continuing Education http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4673 CPA Continuing Education Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:22:03 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4673 This is excellent advice. I really love travelling and you get attracted to these big offers at 5 star hotels and what not but then you figure that you don't really need it. I've started having more fun travelling after i started planning out the finances of my travels in order to fulfill the needs and have more to spare to travel and discover. It is so much more enjoyable to know that you are spending wisely. This is excellent advice. I really love travelling and you get attracted to these big offers at 5 star hotels and what not but then you figure that you don't really need it. I've started having more fun travelling after i started planning out the finances of my travels in order to fulfill the needs and have more to spare to travel and discover. It is so much more enjoyable to know that you are spending wisely.

]]> By: Racine Personal Injury Lawyer http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4672 Racine Personal Injury Lawyer Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:46:27 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4672 All too often do we get caught up in the new features instead of the necessity. It's nice to have a reminder every now again. Great post. All too often do we get caught up in the new features instead of the necessity. It's nice to have a reminder every now again. Great post.

]]> By: Kodi http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4668 Kodi Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:18:27 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4668 Understanding the differences between needs and wants is a key money saving skill. One of the biggest cash sinks is buying a car. Too many people are lured to the sweet smell of a new car. Yeah, a new car is typically more reliable than a used car, but if you buy a young car, say three years old, it's likely to be in good shape and have taken the depreciation hit. This is high value, low cost situation somewhat like buying the used Weber grill. Buy smart! Understanding the differences between needs and wants is a key money saving skill. One of the biggest cash sinks is buying a car. Too many people are lured to the sweet smell of a new car. Yeah, a new car is typically more reliable than a used car, but if you buy a young car, say three years old, it’s likely to be in good shape and have taken the depreciation hit. This is high value, low cost situation somewhat like buying the used Weber grill.

Buy smart!

]]> By: Holiday Savings Ideas http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4667 Holiday Savings Ideas Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:36:07 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4667 [...] Travel less this season Traveling at holiday time is expensive and stressful, and this holiday season is proving to be an absolute bear. The weather in the Northwest and the Northeast is causing huge delays at airports. Many airlines are letting you reschedule at no extra charge. Be sure to ask about these special offers and if you are able to cancel at no charge, even better. We hope you are not one of the thousands of stranded travelers at the airports but if you are, we wish you the best in getting where you want to go as soon as possible. Curb your spending! There are going to be some incredible bargains after the holidays. In order to keep myself away from the stores I say – “do I really need this?” And “do we have the room?” Most of the time it is a resounding no!  If you think your spending is not optimal, there are online tools you can use to do a better job of budgeting such as Mint and Wesabe. You can use their budgeting tools and discuss strategies with active online communities. It may be that you find out those extra take out meals or that additional night out at the movies and dinner is costing just a little too much at the current time and if you cut back, your savings could exceed more than $500 a year. [...] [...] Travel less this season Traveling at holiday time is expensive and stressful, and this holiday season is proving to be an absolute bear. The weather in the Northwest and the Northeast is causing huge delays at airports. Many airlines are letting you reschedule at no extra charge. Be sure to ask about these special offers and if you are able to cancel at no charge, even better. We hope you are not one of the thousands of stranded travelers at the airports but if you are, we wish you the best in getting where you want to go as soon as possible. Curb your spending! There are going to be some incredible bargains after the holidays. In order to keep myself away from the stores I say – “do I really need this?” And “do we have the room?” Most of the time it is a resounding no!  If you think your spending is not optimal, there are online tools you can use to do a better job of budgeting such as Mint and Wesabe. You can use their budgeting tools and discuss strategies with active online communities. It may be that you find out those extra take out meals or that additional night out at the movies and dinner is costing just a little too much at the current time and if you cut back, your savings could exceed more than $500 a year. [...]

]]> By: Daily Links: Off to Orlando Edition | writteninfo.com http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4674 Daily Links: Off to Orlando Edition | writteninfo.com Tue, 19 May 2009 23:41:43 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4674 [...] At the Wesabe blog, Marc Hedlund writes that you should focus on needs, not products. When we fixate on products, we ignore other cheaper solutions that might be available. [...] [...] At the Wesabe blog, Marc Hedlund writes that you should focus on needs, not products. When we fixate on products, we ignore other cheaper solutions that might be available. [...]

]]> By: Dee http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4671 Dee Mon, 18 May 2009 01:01:21 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4671 Great post. I have a list of things that I think I will need to buy at some point, but now I am going to refocus and figure out what I hope to get out of those things and see if there's another way (as close to free as possible) to achieve the same goal. Great post. I have a list of things that I think I will need to buy at some point, but now I am going to refocus and figure out what I hope to get out of those things and see if there’s another way (as close to free as possible) to achieve the same goal.

]]> By: Get Rich Slowly » Daily Links: Off to Orlando Edition http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4670 Get Rich Slowly » Daily Links: Off to Orlando Edition Sun, 17 May 2009 22:01:00 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4670 [...] At the Wesabe blog, Marc Hedlund writes that you should focus on needs, not products. When we fixate on products, we ignore other cheaper solutions that might be available. [...] [...] At the Wesabe blog, Marc Hedlund writes that you should focus on needs, not products. When we fixate on products, we ignore other cheaper solutions that might be available. [...]

]]> By: Kelly http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4669 Kelly Tue, 12 May 2009 13:25:43 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2009/05/11/focus-on-needs-not-products/#comment-4669 I think the struggle to know the difference between a well-marketed product and needs is one of the main reasons Americans have debt and spend so much. I have accepted that certain things like buying coffee from Starbucks or a café is more about the experience for me. I could save on making my own coffee at home, but sometime I want that experience. In fact I'd go as far to say that we occasionally NEED the experience of being out of the house, doing something to be well-rounded. Of course this goes for anything and everything we buy, and when you really pay attention to those choices it can be interesting to see how much you can save. Great post. I think the struggle to know the difference between a well-marketed product and needs is one of the main reasons Americans have debt and spend so much.

I have accepted that certain things like buying coffee from Starbucks or a café is more about the experience for me. I could save on making my own coffee at home, but sometime I want that experience. In fact I’d go as far to say that we occasionally NEED the experience of being out of the house, doing something to be well-rounded.

Of course this goes for anything and everything we buy, and when you really pay attention to those choices it can be interesting to see how much you can save.

Great post.

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