Our lives today seem driven by desires for new cars, TVs, clothes, iPods and whatever the latest consumer gadget is. So much so that we rarely stop to ask ourselves.

Do I really need it?

If we did, more often than not I suspect the answer would be no.

Do I really need a new car? No the current one is only a few years old.

Do I really need an iPod Touch? No that old IPod classic plays the same music.

Do I really need a 42″ TV? No the current 3X” one is probably already too big for you living room.

So next time you’re thinking about buying something, take a breath and ask yourself:

Do I really need it?

Better yet put off the purchase for 24 hours while you think about it. I bet that in most cases the answer is no, in which case you’ve saved yourself some money and moved nearer to achieving financial freedom.