Lesson 17
Human Needs
Read the texts related to human needs and do 4 tasks:
Task 1 Read the Quotes on Needs and translate them into Ukrainian. (5 points)
Task 2 How can ‘a need’ be defined? (2 points)
Task 3 What are the synonyms for ‘needs’? (1 point)
Task 4 What are the Primary (basic) human needs? (4 points)
Needs: Definition and Examples
We as people all have our wants and needs. But what is the difference between
them? What makes a need so essential and what are they? In this article, we’ll
define what makes a need a need.
There are certain things we all require to get by. Whether they be the
bare necessities such as food and water or requirements such as love and
safety, we all have needs. However, the line between what is truly a need
versus something we just want can be blurry.
Quotes on Needs
1. “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” — John Muir
2. “A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns
home to find it.” — George A. Moore
3. “You will be your best self when you take time to understand what you
really need, feel and want.” ― Deborah Day
4. “When you are balanced and when you listen and attend to the needs of
your body, mind, and spirit, your natural beauty comes out.” — Christy
Turlington
5. “The most amazing thing about giving is we meet each other's needs.” ―
Lailah Gifty Akita
What Are Needs? (A Definition)
A need can be defined as a “physiological or psychological requirement for the
well-being of an organism” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). In other words, a need is
something that you can’t be okay without. This can range from food and water to
human contact and socialization.
Our needs can also differ depending on the situation. In general, we have needs
such as food because without it we can die. However, if we’re talking about
relationships, communication can be a need since, without it, that relationship can
deteriorate. There is a range of meanings for when people say ‘need’ but in general
a need is a requirement due to it being essential in some way.
Synonyms for Needs: People will toss out many different terms when referring
to their needs. Some of these include:
• Requirements
• Essentials
• Necessities
• Demands
Some people mix up needs and wants.
There are many types of needs. Luckily, researchers have separated them into different
categories. These categories are below:
Primary needs. This can include food, water, clothing, and shelter. These are the
needs that you usually desire to fulfill first. For example, whenever you move to a
new city, the first thing you are likely to consider is where you will live. You
might need something affordable as well as a location that is accessible to other
amenities, like a grocery store.
• Secondary needs. These are needs that come after primary needs. This
includes having furniture in your home or having a closet to place your clothes in.
After locating a new place to live as your primary need, you may then add more
qualifiers as a secondary need. Does the apartment have 1 or 2 bedrooms? Does it
have a dishwasher? These are examples of secondary needs.
• Tertiary needs. These are the least essential needs (and may be considered
wants). For instance, this includes needing sports cars, brand clothing, or
expensive vacations. Going back to the new apartment example, a tertiary need
might be a luxury apartment. Does it have a balcony, a private gym, or other
higher-end additions?
Basic needs, or primary needs, are the most essential. These
include: /запитати/
• Food Water Shelter
• Clothing Sunlight Sleep
Basic needs are the ones that you require for survival. Essentially, if you can’t live without
it, it’s a basic need.
Financial needs & personal wants
Read the article and answer the questions below
Plan
• Introduction
• Determining financial needs
• Identifying typical wants
• Budgeting for both needs and wants
• A well-paid job as the way to satisfy personal needs & wants
Some things you need — a roof over your head, electricity in your home, gas in your car to get to
work — and some things you just want, like tickets to a show or dinner and a movie. You can fit
both into your budget and still set money aside for emergencies if you manage your spending with
care.
Keep reading to learn how to balance financial needs and wants.
Determining needs
Financial needs are expenditures that are essential for you to be able to live and work.
They’re the recurring expenses that are likely to eat up a large chunk of your paycheck — think
mortgage payment, rent or car insurance.
Here’s a short list of some common expenses that fall under needs:
• Housing.
• Transportation.
• Insurance.
• Gas and electricity.
• Food.
• Identifying wants
Wants are expenses that help you live more comfortably. They’re the things you buy for
fun or leisure. You could live without them, but you enjoy your life more when you have them.
For instance, food is a need, but daily lunches out are likely more of a want.
Wants typically include things such as:
• Travel. Entertainment. Designer clothing. Gym memberships. Coffeehouse drinks.
Wants and needs won’t be the same for everyone. You may need a car to get to and from work
each day, for example, but the type of car you need can vary. If your job requires driving around
high-powered clients, for example, a luxury car may be a need. If you're simply shuttling
yourself to and from the office, it's likely a want and a more affordable car will suffice.
The same is true for smaller-ticket items, like that new coat you're eyeing. Outerwear is
definitely essential to protect you from the elements, but if you have three other coats in your
closet, that jacket is probably a want.
Budgeting for both needs and wants
So how can you start accounting for wants and needs in your budget? Begin by writing a list of
all the things you buy. That means everything from toilet paper to life insurance. Then, group
purchases into broad categories like toiletries, cable, phone and insurance.
Divide the categories into two buckets: wants and needs.
It’s a good idea to spend
• 50% of your budget on needs
• 30% on wants
• 20% on savings and paying off debt.
Plug your monthly take-home income into this budget calculator to determine how much you have
available for each category.
To satisfy all needs and wants, a person needs a good well-paid job.
What is a good job?
A good job is a position that allows you to meet your basic needs, such as shelter and safety,
while giving you the tools and resources to do your best work. These jobs can motivate you to do
your work efficiently, encourage you to stay with an employer longer and improve your morale
in the workplace. While a good job varies based on a person's unique skills and interests, these
positions usually have several factors in common, including adequate pay, opportunities for
advancement and a sustainable work-life balance.
Salary is an attribute of a good job that varies based on factors such as geographic location,
industry or level of experience. While you're the only one who can determine your salary
requirements, a good job should allow you to both meet your basic needs and live comfortably.
This could mean earning enough to cover your rent or mortgage payment, buy groceries and pay
bills while still having expendable income each month.
Benefits Besides salary, a company's benefits package is another important factor in a
good job. Common benefits include affordable health insurance, paid time off or a 401(k)
contribution match. Good jobs may also provide nontraditional benefits, such as a monthly
stipend for commuting costs or the option to work remotely. These benefits can help offset some
costs of living while also making employees feel valued.
Advancement When you perform well at a good job, you may eventually have the option
to advance to a higher position. Moving up in your career path, such as transitioning to a
leadership role, can help you develop new skills. Often, this advancement also comes with a
higher salary. Knowing that you have advancement opportunities in your current job can help
you stay motivated to work toward those goals.
Balance A good job allows you to have a healthy work-life balance. This means that
besides the time you spend working, you have plenty of time to see your loved ones or pursue
your hobbies and interests. These things make a person happy and satisfied with life. Also,
having this balance gives a person a sense of personal fulfillment that can make you more
focused during work hours.
Be happy!
