Put Your Credit Card Down
Pause. Before you hit that "checkout" button, ask yourself: How many of the items in your cart are things you actually need? If you’re struggling to answer—or finding yourself coming up with justifications—you might want to read through this list first. Otherwise, you could end up with a case of buyer’s remorse. Here are 20 questions to ask yourself before hitting “add to cart.”
1. Does It Solve a Problem I Had Before Seeing It?
Asking yourself this question will help you differentiate between something you want versus something you genuinely need. For example, if your phone case is broken, buying a new one to replace it solves the problem you had. But if your case is fine and you're still shopping for another, then that's shopping out of want, not need.
2. Do I Already Own Something Similar?
Think about the items you already have in your closet or at home. Is the item you're thinking of adding to your cart similar to something you already have? Are you only tempted to buy it because of its style, color, or design, even though you own a near-equivalent variation of it? Asking yourself these questions will help you narrow your intentions.
3. Where Will It Be in Five Years?
Let's say you do go through with the purchase. In five years' time, where is it? Are you still using it regularly, or is it sitting at the back of your closet, collecting dust? Worse—is it already broken and tossed out? Thinking ahead to the future may also help you make a better, more informed decision.
4. Does It Suit Me or My Body Type?
If you're buying clothes or accessories, ask yourself whether the piece you're eyeing suits your style and body. Sometimes, you might be tempted because it looks good on the model, but it's worth taking into account why it looks good on them. Is it because of their size and shape, their complexion, or are they wearing other items that pair well with the piece (meaning you'll likely have to buy those matching items as well)?
5. Am I Only Buying It Because It's Trendy?
Think about the current trends you've seen floating around. Whether it's a makeup, household, or clothing item, our wants are often influenced by social media or the people around us; humans, after all, have a tendency to follow the crowd. So, the next time you find yourself looking at something popular, ask yourself: "Do I actually want it, or am I falling prey to the bandwagon effect?"
6. Would I Still Buy It If It Weren't on Sale?
Sometimes, we're influenced by sales. We might have not thought twice about an item if it were listed at its regular price—but as soon as it gets a discount, we're throwing it into our cart because we think it's a "good deal." But it's worth taking a pause to retrace your steps: If you wouldn't have bought it had it not been on sale, what's your reason for buying it now, other than it being discounted?
7. Am I Influenced By Emotions or Boredom?
You've probably heard the advice, "Don't grocery shop when you're hungry," and that's because we tend to buy more than we need when we're feeling starved. Following the same line of thinking, you shouldn't shop when you're bored or upset, as these emotions can drive you to impulse buy.
8. Are the Reviews Good?
Before you purchase anything, you should scan through the reviews if any are available. What's the general consensus? What are people who rated the item one-, two-, or three-stars saying? And if there are no reviews at all, do you really want to take the risk?
9. Is It Going to Mess Up My Budget?
How will purchasing this item affect your budget? If you'll need to compromise by pausing your spending for a month or two, is this item worth that sacrifice, and will you be able to successfully hold off? It's worth asking these questions to ensure you're not negatively impacting your financial limits.
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10. Do I Need to Justify Why I Need It?
If you find that you're already needing to justify why you should purchase this item (like, "It might take a toll on my bank account, but it's still a good deal"), then it might be a sign that you shouldn't buy it. After all, if you have to come up with a reason for buying it, that means you don't actually need it.
11. Do I Just Want It So People See That I Have It?
Similar to the bandwagon effect of wanting to follow the crowd, are you only considering purchasing the item because you've seen others with it and want to show off that you have it, too? Oftentimes, we might do this with designer brands so we can flaunt our status and wealth. But in this sense, you're not really buying it for you.
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12. Will I Use This Right Away?
Say you do make the purchase today. Are you going to use it immediately, or is it going to collect dust for a while before you remember that you bought it? If it's the latter, then you might not actually need it, or you should at least hold off buying it until you do need it.
13. Do I Have Space for It?
Sometimes, we're so caught up in the moment and our impulses that we don't stop to think about whether we even have the space for the item we're considering. For example, if your closet and drawers are already stuffed full, how will a new shirt or jacket fit into the equation?
14. How Easy Is It to Return If I Change My Mind?
Let's say you find the item isn't right for you after all, and you change your mind. What's the return policy like? Will you need to pay hefty shipping costs? It's best to read up on the policy before you make a purchase, so you know what to expect in the scenario where you don't want the item.
15. Will I Still Want This In a Month?
Instead of adding the item to your cart immediately, hold off for a bit. If it's not something you've been eyeing for a while already, give it two weeks or a months' time to see if your decision changes. We're often so influenced by our in-the-moment impulses that we instantly heed to them, when in reality, we probably won't want the item anymore after some time passes.
16. How Do I Picture Myself In It?
Similar to asking yourself whether a clothing or accessory piece fits with your style and body type, try picturing yourself in it. Visualize what you'll wear with it, and whether the color suits you. It might even help to make a cutout template of yourself to replace the model's face with, so that you can actually see how you might look like in it.
Mihaela Claudia Puscas on Pexels
17. Does It Fit with My Other Pieces?
A follow-up question to the previous one, you should ask yourself is whether the item you're eyeing fits with your other pieces. Is it a completely different style that won't match with anything you already have, meaning you'll need to buy more styling pieces? If so, you might want to rethink your purchase.
18. What Will I Need to Let Go of to Make Space for This?
More than just thinking about whether you even have the space for the new item, you should consider what you might have to get rid of. After all, you don't want to endlessly buy and never clear out your old items, or you create clutter and chaos. If you're not willing to give up your old items, you should reconsider purchasing something new.
19. Would Future-Me Thank Present-Me for Buying This?
Is this purchase something that you'll thank yourself for investing in five years from now, 10 years from now? Or will your future self think: "Why did I ever buy this?" It might help to think about the items you already own, and compare what you currently think about them to what originally convinced you to buy them.
20. Do I Truly Need It?
The most important—and obvious—question of them all: Do you truly need it? Be honest with yourself. Has reading through the questions in this list changed or altered your perspective, and if it has, what does that tell you about whether you only want the item, or if you actually need it?
