We have all had the conversation with ourselves of 'Is this a want, or a need...' How do we, or should we react to that question? Even if it is a want, not a need - is it wrong for us to get it - IF we can afford it? This question has seeped into many other things for me - like buying expensive brand name clothes vs. the cheaper ones offered at Target or even Old Navy. Or, is it OK to buy a Lexus - even though a Toyota Camry is essentially the same car? Or an Acura vs. a Honda?
This is what I have come up with. It probably sounds like a giant justification - and I am sure there are holes all through it, but here it goes:
Let's say an Acura costs around $55k and a Honda with comparable features costs around $30k - but you really want the Acura. In order to buy it - my thought would be that you would need to be able to afford to give away the difference in price between the two cars to: a charity of your choice, your church, the homeless guy you pass on the way to work everyday, etc. - you just have to give it away. What this would mean is that the Acura you want would actually cost you $80k ($55k for car + $25k difference to be given away). The same goes for my clothes example too: Burberry Polo = $80; Mossimo Polo = $16. If you want the Burberry - you gots to give an additional $64 away - Making the actual cost to you for the polo $144! Get it!?
As I write this it sounds a lot like 'Carbon Credits' where I am offering a way for you to offset your 'Spending Footprint;' but my thought is this - people are going to buy things and perhaps this will make them think about it first - and even if you decide not to buy the higher priced item (even if you can afford to) perhaps you can give the difference away anyways! NOW that is a real good idea.
Like I said, I know there are holes - so fire away...what do you think?
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