26 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Purchase Any Item
By: Sadie Lee
Tags: Money Management, Saving, Finance, Budget, Money

26 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Purchase Any Item

Things to think about before you move away from saving

I rarely shop online or in person. Most of my online purchases for the year were Christmas gifts from Etsy. I don’t have an Amazon account, and I only have one monthly subscription. I even get free music and just listen to music via Pandora. I am a big fan of ethical purchases, thinking about the impact of each purchase and the amazing delayed gratification that comes from saving! I still treat myself, but I usually run through a barrage of questions before I let myself splurge. I keep my saving goals in mind and think before I spend. So here are 26 Questions I ask myself before purchasing something:

Think of The Item’s Home

1. Where will this item live in the house?

Will this pink and purple perfume bottle really fit in my marble white minimalist bathroom? Will this nail polish end up cluttered against my other 12 bottles of nude nail polish?

2. Imagine that item in a landfill, along with everything else tossed out this year.

Will this item stay in my life for 10 years? Is it a new blender that I absolutely need, with a lifetime warranty? Or is it another black sweater?

3. Is this item something I came to seek out or something I stumbled on?

Did I come to this website in specific pursuit of snowshoes I need to replace my old ones? Or was I just browsing the internet and came across this cool climbing gadget?

4. If I had to leave my house with a duffle bag of my possessions, would this item be in that bag?

Is this item a laptop I need for work and family photos? Or Is this item another piece of clutter that will hold little daily value? If it’s clothing, jewelry, or tech gadgets, I probably don’t need it.

5. How often will this item be used?

Does this item have the potential to end up in the back of a closet? A junk drawer? The garage? Or is this a daily source of joy?

Think of Your Emotions

6. Before reading this next question, think of this item and take a deep breath: How does this purchase feel right now?

I don’t connect to my feelings. I act on them without checking in to how I feel, I am working on that, but we are all guilty of this. Suppose we connect with how we feel. It can help us avoid boredom, anxiety, or impulse purchases. I ask myself, How am I feeling right now? Does purchasing this aid in alleviating that feeling? Feelings cannot ever be alleviated. I will continue to experience a range of emotions, whether I have a new car or not.

7. Do I picture a certain emotion with this item in my life?

Usually, I imagine I am more relaxed and stimulated with a new item in my life. I buy a lot of bikinis, usually because I live in a landlocked state and imagine me smiling on a beach with a new bikini. Purchasing a new bikini, in reality, doesn’t get me closer to the beach.

8. What negative emotions might come with owning or caring for this item?

Buying a new car comes with maintenance, expensive repairs, depreciation, and a lack of financial flexibility for a while afterward. I often don’t think about washing the freshly purchased dress in the future or the cost/time of waxing the new pair of skis.

9. What are the depictions of emotions depicted around this item in advertisements?

I never see people moping around when they buy new marble countertops. New kitchens are usually debuted with a happy holiday family and spacious happy kitchen. Not stressed parents trying to pay for marble kitchen installments, and partners yelling about who is doing the dishes, again. I like to ask myself: Where have I seen this product advertised, and how do people look in these commercials?

10. What does it feel like to think about buying this item next week?

I am the queen of impulse buying. I even latch onto these items and still crave them even weeks later. But the reality is most of the time; these purchases are impulsive; I am bored or convinced that I need this scarf. Right now, it's a new ring and a new belly button piercing; I already have plenty of these. Next week, I will probably still not feel like I finally purchased enough.

Think of the Money

11. If this is not a one-time payment, what will this monthly subscription or payment prevent me from purchasing later on?

I only have one subscription… and okay, fine, it’s an Erika Lust subscription. I don’t pay for Adobe(even though I am a part-time photographer), I don’t pay for Rosetta Stone, Netflix, Google Photos, iCloud, monthly gym memberships, or music like Spotify. Nothing. I think this frees up every single dollar to go towards expenses and savings. I also detest subscriptions; they can cost upwards of hundreds of dollars a month; I miss one time payments!

12. Is there a way to get this item or service for free?

I listen to free add riddled Pandora for my music. I also use free Duolingo for my language learning. There is often more than one way to find the things we want. I find that friends and family are often willing to share subscriptions or trade services!

13. Does this item appreciate or depreciate?

Buying a car or a house? Or Is this a lifetime warranty food processor or a hoverboard? Wealth comes from appreciating purchases! I try and think of this with my purchases and how much I am willing to invest.

14. How many times have I bought items similar to this?

How many nail polishes, tank tops, computer gadgets, drinks, or brownie mixes do I already own? Is this item truly going to be that different? You should probably only own one of every item, the exception being a pair of socks!

15. Is this item adding wealth to my life?

Saving money, provides the future me with comfy retirement packages, bigger houses, and financial freedom. A third pair of slippers? Will give me a trip to the wastebasket in 5 years.

16. Does the low cost or high-cost of this item factor into my desire for it?

I used to buy multiple $1.99 tank tops at Forever 21. I also already had dozens. I often get swallowed into “sale” items. The opposite is also true. Buying new AirPods, slacks, or an iPhone is often a way people are attempting to communicate class, even though it’s an unnecessary purchase.

17. How is this item being financed?

Monthly car payments- probably not worth it. An appreciating house payment? An education? Worth it. I factor in whether I am paying for something upfront or if the item is cutting into my monthly budget for months to come. I personally think the only thing that should be bought and paid for in monthly installments is a house.

Think of the Platform

18. Who owns this company?

I have been trying to support more female and BIPOC entrepreneurs. It’s not realistic to try and do this with every purchase. But it is important to try and think about each product and what company practices I support with my dollar. Liberals, Libertarians, and Free Market supporters can all agree. Money can control the market. Vote with the dollar! Who are the major shareholders in this company? The American Chemical Council has a vested interest in Dupont. Due to this, the two have worked together as two evils and have destroyed towns and lied to their consumers. Every purchase against Teflon can be a vote for public safety! There are tons of other examples of this. I like to know what my money is supporting.

19. Where does this company make this product?

Is this made in an American warehouse? Are the labor practices fair? Do the workers have health insurance? Are they dying from heatstroke? Or is this product made abroad where they might not have labor practices or maybe undercutting their worker’s salary?

20. What chemicals/treatments are used/created in this product?

Claire’s makeup was found to contain lead and asbestos. Is it known where the scent in this product comes from? How about the plastics? Chemicals and additives are especially important for things that live on the body, like cologne, shirts, makeup, and lotions.

21. How does this company support the environment?

So many companies do not accept responsibility for their contributions to pollution and waste. Looking into this and spreading the word allows me to support companies that support the environment, companies like Patagonia!

22. Does this company protect your data?

Will this company uses the knowledge of this purchase to later send me advertisements? Will this company continue to advertise similar products to me(ex. mailing list) so I will later spend more? I know Fitbit is using my data; however, they want, how do I know my data is safe here?

Think Of the Values

23. What are the personal values that this item relates to?

I buy a lot of period products from women run and environmentally friendly organizations. I value compassion for the planet and justice for women. These values are drivers in my purchases. If I step back and look at what I purchase, I can tie it to my values! I can support women without buying a product. My belief, that my values have more weight behind them if I put money behind them, is a fallacy. Does this appeal to a value I want to live by?

24. Would the values of friends and family align with this purchase?

If I bought a new car tomorrow, my parents would be disappointed. My parents’ approach to buying cars is to buy used cars you can afford. Not setting myself up for monthly payments. They have always valued used cars. This is all partly because they believe in not being ostentatious, and not spending money on a depreciating asset. My family also doesn’t find joy in cars. In the same vein, if I put money into holistic health, my family would be very happy for me. Conversely, I think many times; we don’t reflect enough on whether purchases are extrinsically motivated by those with whom we surround ourselves. Is buying this item for the purpose of getting approval from those I love? Only I can answer that.

25. What is the value placed on saving?

I used to think saving was boring, too forward-thinking, and unnecessary. Now saving means financial independence, an upgrade for living, and new items in my life that bring me real value. The value, I place on small items, is much lower in comparison to my lofty reasons for saving.

26. What are the deeper origins of my values around money?

My family cuts corners on spending. But vacations, doctor's visits, and family adventures were areas where they spent funds. Everyone grows up around different cultures, ideas, and values around saving. Most families have their splurge items and their penny-pinching areas, and they aren’t always logical. For example, I ran such a tight budget that I almost didn’t end up investing in a Medium account, even though I have made well over the yearly membership in the first three months. Sometimes, a family value of saving at all costs can hurt you financially in the long run.

It wasn’t until I stopped letting myself purchase more that I had to face my spending habits. Spending was tied to my emotions and values. I didn’t think of the organizations I was supporting, the advertisement barrage, or how that item fit into my life. Stepping back has allowed me to be mindful of every purchase. Now when I buy something, it's because I have thought it through, and I am purchasing it for the right reasons.

This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered Financial or Legal Advice. Not all information will be accurate. Consult a financial professional before making any major financial decisions.