Kids learn “[I want](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/neale-godfrey/kids-and-money_b_1956464.html)“ almost as soon as they learn to talk — or as soon as they see the inside of a store, or their first TV commercial. If you tell them “You *want* it, but you don’t *need* it,” they learn “I neeeed” almost as quickly — and their first definition of “I need” is the same as “I want,” but more persistent. You have to teach the distinction.
A Need: Something without which your daily living would be impossible, or very, very difficult.
A Want: Something that if you had, you’d be happier momentarily, but if you didn’t, you could live without.
Remember, your child might *want* the most expensive, popular brand of new sneakers but wouldn’t a less expensive pair work just as well?
