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How Money Works

The Five Things Every Human Needs

Ages 8–10 20 min read Beginner

If you had to survive with only the absolute basics, what would you need? Not want — need. Things you literally cannot live without.

It's a shorter list than you think.

The Five Essential Human Needs

1. Air, Water, and Food

You can survive ~3 minutes without air, ~3 days without water, ~3 weeks without food. You need food, not takeaway. You need water, not soft drinks.

2. Shelter

Protection from weather and danger. A shelter doesn't need to be a four-bedroom house. For most of history, it was a hut or communal dwelling.

3. Clothing

To regulate temperature and protect yourself. You need something to wear — not branded sneakers. Australians buy 56 items of clothing per year on average (Australia Institute, 2021).

4. Sleep and Rest

Children 10-14 need 9-11 hours per night (Sleep Health Foundation). This need is free — but entire industries sell mattresses, sleep apps, and "sleep technology."

5. Safety and Connection

Humans are social animals — solitary confinement is torture. But you need connection, not a smartphone. You need community, not followers.

Everything Else Is a Want

Almost everything you spend money on is a want. That doesn't make wants bad — they make life enjoyable. But knowing the difference gives you power to choose consciously.

Tonight's Question

"If our family could only keep 10 things we own, what would they be? How many are needs vs wants?"

Go around the table. Notice what people struggle to give up.

The Needs Audit

  1. Each person walks through their bedroom and lists every item they own (10 min).
  2. Mark each "N" (need) or "W" (want).
  3. Count the percentages.
  4. Pick 5 "wants" unused in the last month. Why did you buy them?
  5. Estimate the total cost of unused wants.

Go Further

  • Look up Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Draw the pyramid.
  • Challenge: One week buying only genuine needs. Keep a diary.
  • Debate: Is internet access a need or want in the modern world?
  • Book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (2011).

What We Simplified

  • Maslow's hierarchy is debated. People pursue purpose even when basic needs aren't met.
  • Context shifts the boundary. Running water was a luxury for most of history.
  • Mental health matters. Some "wants" (hobbies, books) significantly help mental health, which is also a need.

Sources

  • Maslow, A.H. (1943). "A Theory of Human Motivation." Psychological Review, 50(4), 370-396.
  • The Australia Institute (2021). "Clothing Consumption in Australia." Link
  • Sleep Health Foundation. "Sleep Needs Across the Lifespan." Link
  • Kondo, M. (2011). The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Ten Speed Press.

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