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Should I buy this?

Eight quick questions to tell a real want from a passing urge. Answer honestly and you will have a clear answer in about a minute.

0 of 8 answered
1When did you first want this?
2Are you hoping it will change how you feel? A bad day, boredom, a little reward.
3Do you already own something that does the same job?
4Can you picture using it, and how often?
5Could you pay for it today without borrowing or using money you need?
6Is something rushing you? A sale ending, low stock, a countdown.
7Do you think you'll still want it in a month?
8Would you buy it at full price?

Not sure? Sleep on it anyway.

Whatever the quiz said, a few days of waiting is the best test. Save the item to Favelist, let the cooldown run, and only buy it if you still want it.

Save to my wishlist Add the extension

How the quiz works

Each answer adds or takes away a few points. A want that has lasted, a gap in what you own and a budget that allows it add points. A rush, a mood, a discount doing the persuading or a tight budget take them away. Your total gives one of four results: a real want, probably yes after a short wait, not sure yet, or probably an impulse.

It never tells you to buy something right now. Even a strong yes is better after a few days, and a no can always be revisited. The quiz just helps you notice what is really going on.

Three signs it is an impulse

  1. You only just saw it. If the want arrived with an ad, a post or a sale email, wait to see whether it survives the weekend.
  2. Something is rushing you. "Today only" and "almost gone" are built to stop you thinking. A real want can stand a day or two of thought.
  3. You need it to change your mood. Shopping can feel like a lift for an hour. If that is the main reason, it is worth waiting.

Questions

How do I know if I should buy something?

Ask a few honest questions: did you want it before you saw it today, do you already own something that does the job, can you picture using it often, does it fit your budget, and will you still want it in a month? If most answers are yes, it is probably a real want. If you are rushed, in a mood, or drawn mostly by the discount, it is likely an impulse.

How do I stop impulse buying?

Add a pause between wanting and buying. Save the item instead of buying it, and look again after 24 hours for small things or 30 days for big ones. Our notes on the 24-hour rule and the 30-day rule explain how.

How is the result worked out?

Each answer adds or takes away a few points. Answers that point to a lasting want add points: wanting it for a while, owning nothing like it, picturing frequent use. Answers that point to an impulse take them away: a rush, a mood, a discount, a tight budget. Your total decides the result. It is a prompt to think, not a rule.

Does the quiz save my answers?

No. It runs in your browser, with no account and nothing stored. The Share button makes a link that has your answers in it, so whoever opens it sees the same result.