People in the US and to some extent in the UK, have been conditioned to think luxuries are necessities, that actual necessities are rights and rights are something unique to yourself that must be denied to everyone who has the wrong colour skin, speaks the wrong language, has the wrong name for god, or was born more than two blocks away and thus is inferior and deserves nothing other than to die for your protection.

I'll be curious to see how that tracks with my own finances. I don't put a whole lot of thought into my budget, as necessity dictates it for me without a formula. Yep, needs come first, then wants, meaning social entertainment for me, and with any left over, I pay myself back for the home equity line of credit I draw on to use for the bigger wants/needs, meaning home improvements, car and travel to visit family. I don't have any savings anymore. My home is my savings account. The more I pay down my mortgage or home equity loan, the less interest I'm paying, which saves me money.