I don't really like using the word "need" because to
survive I really didn't need anything I got.
To live like a normal person, yeah, I had to pay rent, internet, to do laundry, for pads, for bleach and cleaning rags, toilet paper, the vacuum was pretty necessary post-exterminators, the storage bin helps immensely with keeping all my clothes that don't fit or it's too warm for now most days out of the way, extra towels/cleaning rags/the loose sheet I don't use and extra pillow case, but that wasn't
needed.
Then the desk/chair I've been really wanting, but that is far from a need and just a want to have space to put my laptop and a physical notebook next to so I can conveniently use both at the same time. And have a chair that doesn't suck to sit in for more than 15 minutes (which explains the chair cushion--again not a
need). I will need the soap and lighter blanket eventually, just don't right now (well, most nights right now for the blanket...
it's coming too fast!). I don't
need a 4th bra, 2 new shirts and a hoodie I feel okay throughout the summer wearing right now, it just felt like it'd be convenient (the hoodie I'll be grateful for when I can go longer without feeling like dying wearing my prior lightest one). (And then there's the fact if I wasn't so insecure about my body and scars and stuff I could actually go outside in some T-shirts I already have). The coat hooks are super convenient and makes sure my closet floor doesn't get soaked when it rains, but again, not a
need.
I will say I would've gone batshyt insane without the bed bug stuff "just in case" or the craft stuff I got (that was literally just $3.75 for glue, scissors, and poster though, but it did give me a break from that day I spent 8 hours cleaning by 10am). The DBT falls in the same category: not a survival need, but a "this might save my sanity" thing.
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I guess I haven't been spending "above my means," in that I'm in or heading towards debt. I do just like to have my bank account close to the SSI asset limit because who knows what's going to happen tomorrow (if I find another bed bug I have to pay for the whole extermination myself next time in addition to how much it costs to put every piece of washable fabric I own through the not very high capacity washer and dryer and it being highly recommended to throw out a bunch of stuff, for an example that's on my mind a lot). After my next deposit I'll be close to it again so I guess this month wasn't horrible.
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I guess looking forward the filter replacement is more a need because no fking way am I drinking our nasty *** city canal tap water straight out of the sink (it is treated and "safe" but gross af). The curtains/rod I can probably just keep looking around until I find something I like that's a decent price because a darker room will help so much especially come it being light out at 10pm and those way too sunny days that just don't agree with me. I love washable period underwear for light days so I don't feel like I'm wasting pads too, but it might be a few months or years before my next cycle starts (or days, in all honesty, but more likely months to years) so I can hold off. I just found out there's a women's pantry a few miles from here that has donation menstrual supplies too, and I was thinking it was just going to be like the domestic violence shelter pantry with really shytty tampons and the same pads you can get for free from the library (if that's stocked) but they have menstrual cups, period underwear, razors, deodorant, all sorts of stuff, so I might check out if they have any of the underwear in my size there when the need arises if it doesn't feel like an expense I can handle at the time.
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If I wasn't a concurrent beneficiary and had that SSI limit though, I'd be kicking my arse way worse for not saving up as much as I could! ("you can't have more than $2000 in assets" really does help the guilt)