Ever overdone something? Too much to eat. Ran too far. Stayed up too late. Took on too much work. Spent too much money.
We're not very good at knowing what we need.
We know what we want, and we know how we've got it in the past.
We know what we're supposed to have, and how other people have got it before.
We know what someone else has, and we've assumed we need it too.
It sounds like this:
"We need to move out of this two-bedroom apartment into a three bedroom house because we're having our second baby"
"We need to buy a house in this area because the school is better"
"I need to get my own place, because I'm nearly 30"
Notice how we often use the word 'need' when we really mean 'want'.
Really, really, really wanting something to the point where not having it is painful, still isn't a need.
Do we really need an extra bedroom? A second ensuite?
Do we really need to live in that neighbourhood? On that street?
Do we really need to live with those people? Or without them?
Do we really need a double garage?
Try going without, and see what happens.