Separate wants from needs: Food, clothing, heat and shelter are basic needs and essentials. Each person has his or her own personal needs, too. The “personal needs” are things that you feel you need to carry on your life according to your values. When prioritizing, pinpoint things that are important to you. A want will be something that is nice to have. Only you can decide and separate wants from needs. Start from the basic needs, and take it from there. Consider what things are not necessary, the long-term impact of the choice you make and whether you can afford it. Are there alternatives? How can you be less wasteful?