Knowing what you need and being able to differentiate it from what you want may help make you more financially secure. Very often, the things we want cost more than the things we need. This is because most of our wants are in the realm of the aspirational, while those that we need are more actual and basic. By focusing on the tangible and necessary, we can find contentment at the same time less financially distressed. Feel like you need a new car? Well maybe you want something more upscale than necessary, considering that it will primarily just be used for commutes to and from work. Keep it real, and forget about the Hummer.