I’m having ongoing discussions with my grandson on the difference between wanting something and needing something. He doesn’t grasp the concept

At three, everything is a need, and an immediate one at that. He has no understanding of delayed gratification.

Do you struggle at times with the difference between wants and needs? Be honest with yourself – nobody is checking your answer.

I’ve been pondering the question myself. I want a new phone, but there’s nothing wrong with the one I have.

Admittedly, it is two years old, which means that the manufacturer wants me to think it is obsolete so I will buy a new one. But I haven’t noticed any loss of battery life and it works well. I don’t need a new phone. But I want one.

I have never liked this phone. For two years I have regularly complained about it, here and elsewhere. It functions as designed, so my complaints aren’t rational. The worst thing about it is, it isn’t a Blackberry.

Two years ago, when a couple of keys broke on my old Blackberry, I looked at getting the same phone as a replacement. Blackberry is now a software company and no longer manufactures handsets. But I could still find “new” ones on Amazon, from 2017 or 2018 when they were last made.

I was so tempted. But, I presume due to limited supply, a new Blackberry was going to cost me more than a Google or Samsung phone. Did I want to pay that price for technology that was no longer current, where the operating system couldn’t be upgraded? Wouldn’t that be a security risk?

I decided then to buy a different phone. It was the logical decision – but I regret losing a phone with physical keys. After two years of daily use, I still detest the touch screen and virtual keyboard.

Now though, I see the price of a new Blackberry has dropped considerably. It is still old technology, but it is less than $500. I want one. But I don’t need one.

My heart is saying “buy the Blackberry; you will be happier.” My head replies: “Don’t be silly. You don’t get happiness from a phone. It is old technology; you need to move on.”

I think my head is going to win out over my heart on this one. Maybe if the price were to drop drastically again, I would reconsider.

As I say to my grandson, this isn’t a need, it is a want. I can live without a Blackberry. Even though I don’t want to.