Kotitarve

Kotitarve is a Finnish term describing the domestic needs of a household—the goods, services, and resources required for daily life at home. The word is formed from koti 'home' and tarve 'need'.

In everyday use, kotitarve contrasts with market purchases, referring to what a household obtains, produces, or uses within the home rather than what it buys from outside. In economic and policy discussions, the concept is linked to self-sufficiency, resilience, and security, including food, energy, and basic consumer goods.

Examples include home-grown vegetables, preserved foods, heating or energy produced on site (such as wood or solar), and items repaired or made at home rather than bought new. It can also cover routines of maintenance, clothing production, and other small-scale activities used to meet essential needs.

The term is most commonly encountered in discussions of rural livelihoods and sustainable living, though it can apply in urban contexts as households seek to reduce dependence on markets.

Related topics include household economy, subsistence activities, food security, and energy independence.