8 questions to ask before you buy anything

Most of the time, the hard part of shopping isn't finding things. It's knowing which of the things you've found are actually worth buying.

That's where a few good questions come in. They take less than a minute, they work for anything from a candle to a couch, and they're surprisingly good at cutting through the "I need this" feeling.

Here are eight that work well. There's a short version at the bottom you can screenshot.

1. Do I already own something like this?

This is the one that catches the most. A lot of what we want is a slightly different version of something we already have: another black top, another water bottle, another tote bag.

Before you buy, picture your closet, drawer or shelf. If you already have something that does the job, the new one usually isn't solving a problem. It's just new.

2. Where will it live?

Everything you buy needs a home. If you can't picture exactly where it goes, that's a sign.

"Somewhere" isn't an answer. "On the bookshelf, next to the plant" is. If the honest answer is "in the drawer with the other stuff," see question 1.

3. When will I use it this week?

Not someday. This week.

It's easy to buy for the person we imagine we'll become: the one who goes hiking every weekend, hosts dinner parties and finally starts that hobby. Those things might happen! But if you can't name a real moment in the next week or two when you'd use it, it can probably wait.

4. Would I buy it at full price?

Sales are very good at making things feel like a smart decision. "It's 40% off" can quietly turn into "so I should buy it."

Imagine there's no sale, no countdown and no "only 2 left." If you wouldn't buy it at the regular price, the discount isn't the reason to buy it. It's the reason you're tempted.

5. Would I still want it if no one could see it?

Some things we want for ourselves. Some things we want because of how they'll look, in a photo, on a shelf or to the people around us. Neither is wrong, but it helps to know which one it is.

If the appeal disappears when you imagine nobody else ever knowing you own it, that's worth noticing.

6. Am I buying the thing, or a feeling?

Tired, bored, stressed and just-got-paid are all great times to buy something. Not because you need it, but because buying feels good for a minute.

If you're in one of those moods, that's okay. Just save the link and come back when you're feeling more like yourself. The thing will still be there. (Mark, our little bookmark, is very good at holding onto things while you wait.)

7. Can I afford it without moving money around?

If buying it means putting it on a card you'll pay off "later," dipping into savings or skipping something else you'd planned, it's not really in the budget this month. That doesn't mean never. It might just mean not yet.

8. Will I still want it in a month?

This is the question that ties all the others together, and it's the only one you can't answer right now. You have to wait to find out.

That's the idea behind the 30-day rule. Save it, wait, and ask again later. If you still want it after a month, you'll buy it with a clear head. If you don't, you've saved the money and the space.

The short version

Screenshot this one for next time:

• Do I already own something like this?
• Where will it live?
• When will I use it this week?
• Would I buy it at full price?
• Would I still want it if no one could see it?
• Am I buying the thing, or a feeling?
• Can I afford it without moving money around?
• Will I still want it in a month?

You don't need a perfect score. If most of the answers are a happy yes, go ahead and enjoy it. That's the whole point. These questions aren't about buying less for the sake of it. They're about making sure the things you bring home are things you'll actually love.

And if you'd like a quiet place to keep everything you're still thinking about, that's what Favelist is for. For more ideas, here are 7 things that help stop impulse buying online.