Maybe some of the responses on your thread is a good example of the differences between "needs" and "wants". If you notice, everyone is saying basically the same thing .... dishes, eating utensils, hoses, etc. These are the "needed" items.
The KIND you purchase (your "wants") is the difference between Goodwill purchases and Macey's purchases. Everyone needs dishes to eat from. Some "want" plastic, disposable no hassle stuff. Others "want" a more elegant dish to eat off of, so will pick up a set of Corell ware or a set of good quality dutch oven cook ware opposed to an aluminum pot. You "need" something to fix meals in, what you cook in is your "want".
Everyone has different "wants". You'll need to taylor or out-fit your camper to suit your own needs. But the basic "needs" are pretty much the same, as mentioned above.
Make your camper what you want it to be. If you are looking for simply a place to sleep at night because you are on the "go" all day long, then you don't need to focus on getting a high end television or stereo system. On the other hand, if you are the family that just wants to vegetate around a campfire and fix lots of smores, then a good set of grilling equipment and fire utinsils (like hot dog sticks) is an absolute "must."
One thing that happened to us, our style of camping changed over the years. Be prepared for this too. As time moves on, your "wants" and "needs" will change too. When we started, the kids were little. We started in a tent, moved to a pop-up because that is what we could afford. We used a lot of Colemen camping gear and a lot of paper plates.
When the kids quit camping with us, moved out, we "somehow" had more money! (imagine that!) It didn't take long till we bought our first travel trailer. Around that same time, we decided to switch from the more primitive, temporary, rustic style of camping (cooking over open camp fires, using paper products, and being on the run, run, run all the time etc.) to a slower "vegetative" frame of mind. We started swapping out secondary, used, old, worn out, hand-me down, paper and throw away items and started replacing with real and solid items, like the Corell dinner ware, a high quality set of cook ware, real silverware, we replace paper cups with some nicer more elegant plastic (so it won't break), but also bring along a couple nice glass items and real china coffee mugs. We replace raggity bedding with good quality bedding, electric blankets, plush pillows and got rid of sleeping bags and such. We switched from open campfire cooking to electric griddle and electric skillet cooking (easier, less messy, more controlled heat). Our camper has become our 5 star motel now. It's our one luxury item and about the only "hobby" my wife and I have. So we decided it was time to turn it into a real luxury item. We've not regretted it.
So you see, we still have the same "need". We still have to have a plate to eat off of. But our "wants" changed from paper to Corell ware over time.
I think that's why so many recommend starting out with inexpensive items you can purchase from a variety of thrift stores (and believe me, there NOTHING wrong with that!). Chance are in a year or two at the most, you'll be replacing and changing virtually every item in your camper as you begin to use those things and discover what really works and what does not work for you!
So yes, I strongly agree with the above approach. Start out financially responsible and don't "over do it". Start simple, inexpensive, and over time, then, you won't have any problems replacing a bag of unused paper plates for a set of plastic or even a Corell plate.
The important thing is to not let your "wants" become champaign when the budget alows for beer only. Remember.... you also need to have a surplus of funds available for camping ... for fuel, for campsites, for your entertainment when camping (wether that be a simple camp fire, or attend a concert!).
Once again, congrats! and I really hope you have fun enjoying this part of the adventure! It only gets better and better! Really!
