I am calculating a 50/30/20 budget and 50% is needs, 30% is wants. What is considered a need?

Needs are a roof over your head, food to put in your stomach, a way to get to work, clothes to put on your back. Wants are a beach-front condo, eating out at restaurants, a BMW and designer clothes.

If you need makeup to keep your job, it is a need.

make-up is a want, definitely! "needs" are food, clothing, shelter, basic utilities, transportation, basic clothing etc.--the stuff you have to have. It might help you to prioritize your "wants" between stuff that you use as part of your normal everyday life that would be hard to give up (which may include makeup), and extras like new shoes or eating out.

Also there was a great article in the NY Times a while back about budget makeup--a makeup artist talking about the less expensive brands she buys.

Needs are things you can't live without - e.g. you need air, food, water, shelter, etc.

Wants are things you can live without - e.g. iPods, alcohol, cigarettes, etc.

Exactly what a need or want depends a lot on the individual. For example, an actor will argue that tanning clinics are a need because they will help him/her get a role in a movie. However, going to tanning clinics just "because", suggests this a want rather than a need.

If you travel to work then arguably a car is a need, but just because you need a car does not mean you need a porsche or ferrari when something more cost-effective will do the job just as well.

You may 'need' a night out, but that means forgoing saving for your retirement, repaying debt, funding your child's education, or something similar.

It is not evil to want things, but you have to be able to afford them, otherwise things get out of control and the next thing you know a debt collector is knocking on your door. you need to realise that by buying anything - need or want - means you are forgoing buying something else (which may be more important).

A need is defined as something necessary of human existence. The essentials ar usually considered food, shelter, and clothing. I would also argue the need to repay debts should be calculated for financial reasons.

Save Wisely and Good luck with it.

Graeme is right! Definition of needs depends on the person and their situation. Clothing is a need, but if you have enough clothing to sustain you, don't buy more. Makeup is not a basic need, but cheap makeup could help you further your career or just maintain a little self-esteem.

See Maslow's hierarchy of needs linked below.

Need = Food, Shelter, Clothing...what you need for survival. If you can survive without something, it is relegated to the want list. Emotional needs are mostly self indulged wants.

Things to survive and live normal life

Needs are what you must have for survival. Make up is a want.

i believe make-up is a want. but you can have your must basic or essential make-up as part of your need. needs include what you have to have, such as paying your rent, gas, grocery, and such.