Purchase check
Should I Buy It?
Before you hit “buy”, check the purchase against the numbers that matter: what it costs relative to your income and savings, how much you would really use it, whether you already own something similar, and whether it is a need or a want.
How is the check calculated?
Financial pressure grows with the price relative to your income and savings and jumps when borrowing is required. Usage score rises with how many times a month you expect to use the item. Value score combines usage with whether the purchase is a need (scores higher) or a want, then subtracts for duplicating something you already own and for borrowing. Scores run 0–100; they are simple rules of thumb to structure your thinking.
About this tool. It helps you see whether a purchase is urgent and affordable — it never decides for you. Consider waiting a few days and reviewing the decision if the purchase is not urgent. Nothing you enter here is stored.
Worked example
A realistic scenario, already filled in. Open it, then change one number at a time to see what actually moves the result.
A 1,200 laptop on a 3,000 monthly income
Used twenty times a month, paid from savings rather than credit, and wanted more than needed. The result shows a manageable purchase with a cooling-off nudge, not a green light.
Open this example in the tool → The numbers live in the link, so you can bookmark it or send it to someone.
Guides that go with it
Frequently asked questions
What does the cooling-off suggestion mean?
For a purchase that is not urgent, it suggests waiting a few days before buying. The point is to separate a want from a need while the money is still yours.
How is the result put together?
From the price relative to your monthly income and savings, how often you would realistically use it, whether you already own something similar, whether it is a need or a want, and whether it requires borrowing.
Should I finance it if I can afford the monthly payment?
The tool treats borrowing as financial pressure rather than as a verdict. A payment that fits this month can still be a bad idea if it removes the buffer you would need for an unexpected expense.
Does it know my full financial situation?
No, and it does not pretend to. It only sees what you type, so treat the result as one input into the decision, never as approval to spend.