This catches the decision before browsing. If you are not here for a specific purpose, stop before the store creates a reason to spend.
Price checkI need to price or research a specific planned item. No browsing beyond that item.
EssentialI am buying a routine essential: groceries, medicine, fuel, pet food/medicine, utilities, or scheduled bills.
BrowsingI am just looking, browsing deals, or seeing what is available.
TriggeredI opened this because of a sale, notification, ad, email, or limited-time offer.
CheckoutI already know the item and the full cost, and I am deciding whether to buy.
Question 1
Do you know the full out-of-pocket cost?
Include tax, delivery, installation, subscriptions, accessories — everything required to make it functional.
YesI know the complete cost
NoI don't know all the costs yet
Question 1b
What is the full out-of-pocket cost?
Enter the total — not just the sticker price.
Question 2
What is the net impact of this purchase on your life?
Both sides, honestly. What changes if you buy it — and what changes if you don't? Project six months out, not today.
Major gainFundamentally improves quality of life. Enables things otherwise impossible. Real downside to not having it.
Clear gainMeaningful, lasting improvement. Solves a real ongoing problem. Life is noticeably better with it.
Modest gainNoticeable improvement. Makes things easier or more enjoyable. Life continues fine without it.
Minimal gainNice but minor. Unlikely to change much. Benefit fades quickly.
No gainHonest answer: nothing really changes either way.
Net lossNot buying is better — saves money, reduces clutter, simplifies life.
Question 3
Do you already own, or can you borrow or rent, something that solves this?
Include things that could be modified or repurposed. The solution doesn't have to be perfect — just functional.
Own itI already have something that works or could be modified to work
Borrow / rentI could borrow or rent instead of buying
NoNothing available — purchase is the only path
Question 3b
Does what you own actually solve the problem long-term?
A workaround isn't a solution. Be honest — is this something you can sustain, or just something that gets you through today?
AdequateIt works well enough. No real downside to continuing with it.
WorkaroundIt's a band-aid. Not sustainable or acceptable long-term.
Question 4
How does this purchase affect your overall financial health?
Don't ask if you can technically pay for it. Ask honestly what this does to your financial position — today and going forward.
No impactCash available. No debt added. Nothing changes.
Minor impactTighter, but I stay on top of everything. Debt is manageable and this doesn't change that.
NoticeableI'll feel this. Debt increases in a way that's real but still serviceable.
Near the edgeI'm already stretched. Adding this pushes me closer to a breaking point.
DamagingI cannot responsibly add this. It puts me over the edge.
Question 5
Are you ready to buy?
Check everything that's true. Unchecked items route to Pending.
Incomplete research — routing to Pending.
Question 5b
What is the stock status?
This is a logistical check, not a decision gate. Backorder is a valid path if you're willing to wait.
In stockAvailable now and ships when needed
BackorderedNot in stock now — I'm okay waiting and want to place the order
No ETAOut of stock with no confirmed availability date
Question 6
What happens if you wait and buy this later?
Retailer deadlines are not real consequences. Evaluate the actual impact of delay on your life.
Serious impactDelay causes real harm — health, safety, financial penalty, or critical function affected
Minor impactInconvenient but life continues normally
No impactWaiting costs nothing. No consequence to delay.
Waiting savesPrice likely drops, better version coming, or sale expected
Price Check Only
You may use the shopping app only to identify the full out-of-pocket cost and product facts for the specific planned item. This is not permission to buy yet.
→ Stay on the specific item you came to research → Do not browse recommendations, deals, or related items → Do not add to cart unless needed to see tax/shipping → Return and run the full decision once the complete cost is known
Allowed — Essential Only
This path is for routine essentials only. Buy the intended essential item and leave the app. Do not add upgrades, extras, or deal-driven items.
→ Groceries, prescriptions, fuel, utilities, scheduled bills, routine pet food/medicine only → No browsing → No nonessential add-ons → If you see another item you want, restart and run the purchase decision
No Go
Browsing is the purchase trigger. If there is no specific planned item, the app stays closed and the money stays available for cash-flow resilience or debt reduction.
→ Close the shopping app now → Do not tap Ignore Limit for browsing → Return only with a specific planned item or true essential need
Pending
A sale, notification, ad, email, or limited-time offer is not a need. Treat the purchase as pending until it survives without the trigger.
→ Close the shopping app → Wait at least 24 hours unless this is health, safety, or critical function → Return only if the item still solves a real problem at full cost
Pending
You don't know the full cost yet. Don't decide until you do. The real number may change everything.
→ Research the complete cost including tax, delivery, installation, accessories → Return and re-run when you have the full number
No Go
The honest answer is that this purchase changes nothing meaningful. No gain justifies the spend. Keep the money or apply it to debt.
→ Apply funds to credit debt instead → Revisit only if circumstances change materially
No Go
You already have a solution. Use what you own before spending money on something new.
→ Attempt the modification or use the existing item first → If it fails, return and re-run — purchase may then be justified
Pending
A borrow or rental option exists. Explore it before committing to a purchase.
→ Attempt to borrow or rent first → If unavailable or impractical, return and re-run
No Go
Your financial position can't absorb this right now. The purchase may be valid — the timing isn't. Adding this now puts you in a worse place, not a better one.
→ Define the financial condition that makes this responsible → Return and re-run when that condition is met
Pending
Your research is incomplete. Don't buy until every item is checked. A missing piece of information at this stage has real cost.
→ Complete all unchecked research items → Return and re-run when ready → Research may change the verdict entirely
Pending
The purchase is justified in principle. The timing isn't right yet. Define the condition and return when it's met.
→ Decision is Go in principle → Don't buy until the condition is met
No Go
No consequence to waiting — which means no urgency to buy today. If there's no cost to delay, there's no case for buying now.
→ Return when a real condition justifies the purchase → Apply funds to debt in the meantime
Go
This purchase is justified. The need is real, the benefit is meaningful, your finances can absorb it, and your research is complete.
→ Buy at the best available price — not the most convenient → Buy the version that solves the problem, not the upgraded version
Go — Place the Order
This purchase is justified. The item is backordered — place the order now and wait for fulfillment. The decision is made.
→ Place the order at the best available price → Buy the version that solves the problem, not the upgrade → Note the expected wait time before ordering
Pending
Purchase is justified but stock is unavailable with no confirmed date. Don't order until availability is confirmed.
→ Monitor stock status → Return and re-run when item is available or backordered
Go — Priority
Delay causes serious impact. This is a genuine urgent need. Buy now at the best available price.
→ Don't delay further → Buy the minimum that solves the problem → Don't upgrade under the cover of urgency