Luxury vs Necessity Debate

The cluster debates what qualifies as a luxury item versus a necessity, focusing on expensive products like high-end goods and experiences that not everyone can afford, contrasted with essentials like housing, healthcare, and education.

📉 Falling 0.5x Politics & Society
2,847
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#368
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
3
2008
25
2009
30
2010
53
2011
58
2012
47
2013
88
2014
99
2015
107
2016
156
2017
170
2018
170
2019
261
2020
211
2021
245
2022
269
2023
335
2024
244
2025
261
2026
15

Keywords

TL US HN DR GDP luxury expensive afford spend cost income spend money things just dollars wealthy

Sample Comments

eru Mar 5, 2022 View on HN

Yes? Not everyone is into luxuries.

MadManE Oct 17, 2014 View on HN

TL;DR Luxuries cost much more for those who might not pay for them.

aidenn0 Mar 12, 2019 View on HN

How is more expensive for a better experience not a luxury product?

google234123 Aug 22, 2022 View on HN

Why do you want to deny everyone else that “luxury”?

throwawaysea May 26, 2019 View on HN

It’s a luxury item that costs hundreds of dollars. People choose to spend money on it instead of these other things. People spend money on a lot of things that aren’t strictly necessary. So I don’t see why it is absurd.Edit: also is housing actually in a bad shape or is it just that housing in the most desirable locations isn’t universally accessible to every income group?

lupire Feb 4, 2024 View on HN

People don't like people who can afford more expensive things.

throwntoday Jan 11, 2023 View on HN

I would suppose that luxury in this case refers to the price point not comfort levels.

tudelo Sep 9, 2019 View on HN

I feel like a life void of luxury is... not preferable.

jojobas Jan 20, 2026 View on HN

People with luxury beliefs can afford luxury items, news at 5.

carlosjobim Oct 18, 2025 View on HN

Aren't luxuries supposed to be expensive?