Ask These 5 Questions Before Buying Anything

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[TheMinimalists]

What questions do *you* ask before making a purchase?

[julio]

Everything you buy is not actually purchased with money. It is purchased with the time taken from your life working. Time is the only thing you can’t buy. Is the item worth an hour of labor? A week? A month? A year of your life?

[karibroy]

My 17 old daughter did a paper on minimalism for a college course. She referenced you guys as being her inspiration for living simply and being more minimal. Her professor loved it and she even received extra credit. Ty for teaching the world that there is more to life then stuff.

[shirleyburnham]

It's took me years & I'm only just learning now, wasted so much money, time & stress on things I never really needed. Thanks to josh & Ryan for helping me reevaluate xx

[HazMat]

In addition to the second question, can I just rent it? I rented an extension chainsaw twice. It's maybe $150+ new. But I think $15 to rent. I might only need it one more time. By renting, I'm not paying the full cost when I'm not getting full use. I don't need to store it or maintain it. So by spending $30-50 to rent saves me $100+ to buy and maintain.

[marywall]

Becoming a minimalist/essentialist has helped to lessen my fears of my financial future. It’s not so much what you make, but what you keep. In that, being truly content with little leads to financial growth and peace. They go together.

[waterlilly]

Waiting...was a actual gamechanger for me.
In 80% of the times i want to buy anything, i change my mind after waiting atleast a day.
It is crazy how our mind works If WE Just give it a little time

[bb_lz]

I remember Joshua Becker's video on this topic and ask myself "What if I don't buy it?" (which kind of captures 3, 4 and 5 here). Of course I hate asking myself that question, especially if I expect an honest answer from me! It has kept me from buying stuff that I didn't really want or need anyway (sorry Guitar Center!). I also think about Dawn, the Minimal Mom's, video about fantasy self. I've reeled in Fantasy Self me quite a bit in the last 6 months.

[sarahlockridge]

I hate "watering" the thing when it comes to plants lol

[Bronnyley]

Borrowing from your future. Great way of looking at purchases.

[IridescentJen]

Day 1: fell in love with and almost took home a new pet (I'm recovering from years of debilitating chronic illness and a little companion would be good for my soul).
Day 2: woke up and immediately thought: SO damn glad for my 'sleep on it' rule, that I didn't commit myself to the literal care and feeding of that sweet creature when my own care and feeding is challenging enough 🤣 That was a close one and would have derailed my future goals even though the immediate need for companionship is totally valid. As an impulsive person I learned to sleep on anything over $100 but I like the 30/30 even better.

[bomanson]

It took me years to accept that when I bought something, I must know its TRUE COST and now I'm happy if I know I couldn't afford it. Turns out, it's just an impulse. I can live without it. But if the thought coming back after a while, I might rethink and probably it's actually important

[domo]

As a full-time hiker, as we say in our community 'It's easier to halve your expenditure than double your income'

[rhondadownes]

I ask myself which I value more, the “thing” and its mental weight, and taking care of it, or the space it will take up in my home. If I love something so much that it brings me joy, then the taking care of it brings me joy as well.

[samanthajones]

Love this! I’ve only just started doing these things / asking these questions/ paying cash for things instead of credit and it’s already making a huge difference to my life! 👏🏻❤️

[ginamarie]

Amen 🙏 ur body got choices ! Choose wisely….. I only buy what I really love and need …..if I get sick of it I sell or donate it ….. never keep anything just to keep it . Less is more . Be a smart consumer.

[c.l.bailey]

I’m disabled and on SSDI. I have credit card debt but sometimes a purchase is impossible not to make because of my medical problems. But still, I put your rules as my phone wallpaper, and they’ve helped me try to think of free or cheaper solutions that have really saved me a ton of money but also all the other costs of maintaining the thing etc

[virtuallifeform]

There's a reason stores and credit card companies want to reduce or eliminate "friction" in sales: they don't want you to have time (even a few seconds) to *think* about what you're about to purchse.

[kolitiokada]

Everything you bring into your home/life demands that you pay with your time & attention. How do you want to spend your time & attention?

[lepetithayekblanc]

I ordered it. I'm sending it back. Thanks 😊