The material self consists of things that belong to a person or entities that a person belongs to. Thus, things like the body, family, clothes, money, and such make up the material self. This addresses how an individual obtains goods, the influences on his or her economic decisions, and what these things say about one's sense of self in the context of what the society values as needs and wants. Products that appeal to people's personalities are more likely to be purchased.

 Certain facets of a person's identity and sense of self are represented by their material goods. An owner's possessions can reveal a lot about them. Therefore, a person's sense of self and identity has an impact on the things they decide to buy to satisfy their desires and the financial decisions they make to meet their social and personal needs. However, the most important factor is determining whether these items and services fall under:

• Wants - equivalent to luxury. Individuals purchase them for non-necessary reasons. 

•  Needs - These are essential for ensuring survival. People buy food, clothing, and shelter out of necessity because they are necessities