Wants vs Needs

In 1900 the average person  living in the United States wanted seventy-two different things and considered eighteen of them essential.  Today the average person wants five hunded things and considers one hundred of them essential - "Money: A User's Manual by Bob Russell. 

What do you consider essential (either things or states)? Maslow's Hierachy is a good starting place for ranking the needs. Place your essential things next to one of the five states:

I'm curious what the 18 items were in 1900.  But here are some of the "wants and essentials" since 1900 by invention year:

1850 - Dishwasher
1901 - Radio, Vacum Cleaner
1902 -  Air Conditioning (we just tied the record today of 17 consecutive days over 90 degrees!!!)
1903 - Airplane
1904 - Washing Machine (Invented in 1700's)
1910 - First Motion Picture (I can't do without TV and Movies now), zipper,
1926 - Garage Door Opener
1930 - Scotch tape
1935 - Telephone Answering Machine
1937 - Photocopier
1940 - Color TV
1942 - Computer (the Modern Computer was 1958 and PC was 1981)
1946 - Microwave Oven
1947 - Mobile Phones (cell phone was in 1983)
1950 - Credit card
1951 - Video Recorder/Player (VCR was in 1971)
1967 - Handheld Calculator
1969 - ATM
1972 - Video Games (Pong)
1973 - Ethernet (precursor to the Internet in 1990)
1975 - Lazer Printer
1978 - Visucalc (now Excel)
1989 - HDTV (Susan still says she doesn't need this)
2001 - iPod (which I still don't own - but deserves a mention)

When you look at the list - not many are really "essential" and most can be listed in your grateful list :)    (See Practice and Attitude of Gratitude  - Dec. 16, 2009)


P.S.  Check out the Five and Five Exercise - Sept. 13, 2009