Needs vs. Wants: Choosing Wisely With Your Piggy Bank Money
You have $5 in your piggy bank. At the store you see a shiny toy robot for $5 — but your sneakers have a hole that lets rain soak your socks every time you step in a puddle. Which one keeps you healthy and dry?
What You'll Learn
- Tell the difference between a need and a want. - Give three examples of needs and three examples of wants. - Explain why needs usually come before wants when you spend money. - Sort pictures of items into a Needs pile and a Wants pile.
What's a Need?
A need is something you must have to stay healthy and safe. Food to eat, water to drink, a warm coat in winter, a place to sleep, and medicine when you're sick are all needs. If you didn't have them, your body could get hurt or sick.
What's a Want?
A want is something fun or nice to have, but you could still live and be healthy without it. Video games, candy, a new toy, or trading cards are wants. There's nothing wrong with wants — but they come after needs are taken care of.
Ask yourself: 'Can I stay healthy and safe without this?' If the answer is yes, it's probably a want. If the answer is no, it's probably a need.
Saving for What Matters
Smart savers take care of needs first, then save leftover coins for wants. If you get $1 a week and save it for five weeks, you'll have $5 — enough for that toy robot, but only after your sneakers are fixed or replaced first.
Match each item to whether it is a Need or a Want.
Terms
Definitions
Drag terms onto their definitions, or click a term then click a definition to match.
Which of these is a NEED?
Maria has $10. Her shoes have holes and let in rain, and she also wants a new toy. What should she buy first?
Sort the Needs and Wants
Draw or cut out six pictures of things people buy: food, a coat, a toy, a video game, medicine, and candy. Glue them onto paper under two labeled columns, NEEDS and WANTS. Point to each picture and tell a grown-up why you sorted it that way.
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