Picture this: you’re browsing the home goods section at your local mall and you spy an item that you have never seen before. You turn it over in your hand, weigh the pros and cons of buying the item, and decide at the last second to step into the checkout line.

The excitement you feel after purchasing a new item is almost addictive; it’s a high that we love to ride…but only for a little while. Once you return home and discover that there is absolutely no space or need for this particular item, you begin to regret your decision instantly. 

There are many things to consider before making a purchase. Whether it be a large item such as a couch, or a smaller item such as a blender, Me In Order recognizes that some of us can fall into a downward spiral of making unnecessary purchases.

Instead of investing in an item based on emotion at the time of purchase, it’s important to evaluate the decision of this investment and how it will benefit your life. This will not only save you time and money, but it will help in your continual efforts to live a clutter-free lifestyle! 

Me In Order has created a “To Buy or Not to Buy” checklist so you can take time to think while shopping. Here’s how not to take the whole store home while browsing for new household items:

To Buy, Or Not to Buy Guide

Before making a spontaneous purchase, take the time to ask yourself…

1.) Can I Afford This Item?

The first question to ask yourself while shopping is if you can afford the item you are planning on purchasing. 

Step 1: if you are in a mall, shop, or store and you do not have money to spend…get out! If you have set aside a certain amount of money for that particular item, then by all means proceed to the next step. However, if you are looking at about $30 and some change in your bank account, and an over-the-top credit card bill, then it’s time to cease your browsing immediately!

Removing yourself from situations where you will overspend is necessary, especially if you are prone to self-indulgence more often than not. Before venturing off to the mall to treat yourself, find other (free!) activities to participate in and avoid putting yourself in a situation where you spend money that you do not have.

2. Is this a need or I want?

We all desire the finer things in life such as a luxury piece of jewelry or a decadent night out. However, when assessing whether or not you are going to make a purchase, ask yourself if it is something you truly need or just something you want.

Is this item a new battery for your car that is needed in order to drive to work the next day? Or is this item new makeup brushes to add to your mountain of makeup brushes that are already taking over your countertop? Evaluate exactly where this item falls and make an effort to only purchase items that you need, or a particular item that you have saved up for and truly desire. 

3. Do I have a home for this?

Upon purchasing this item, you need to think to yourself, “where is this item going to go?”

Our co-founder and operations leader Jeremie Barber states that whenever he decides to make a purchase, he first thinks about where this item is going to go in his home. He says that “if I do not have a home for that purchase, I do not buy it.” 

We can take Jeremie’s advice as a platform for ourselves as well. If you invest in that new toaster, do you have counter space for it? If you buy that new armchair, will it really fit in your already-stuffed living room? Does your daughter really need that new doll house when she already has one in her bedroom? Think first; act second. If the item you are scoping out does not have a place in your home, it does not have a place in your shopping cart. 

4. Do I already have this at home?

This Segway’s perfectly into our next question: do you already have this item at home?

While you are shopping, you might go into what I call “shopping brain” where you forget exactly what you are looking for and if you already have it at home. We’ve all been at the grocery store and purchased an extra carton of eggs when we already have a full carton at home. 

Eggs are one thing, and big purchase items are another. Stay vigilant and aware of the items coming in and going out of your home so you can avoid making multiple purchases. Like most of us, we purchase an item then wait weeks to return it due to our busy schedules. By then, we either can’t get our money back, or just stow the item in the back of our closet and forget about the returning process. Don’t let this be you when you are shopping! Not only will you waste your money, but you will also waste your space on multiple similar items. 

In order to live a clutter-free lifestyle, it is important to think long and hard before making purchases. Keeping track of what you buy and what you toss is important and will help you in the long run, especially when it comes to your credit card bills and your home life. 

We hope our To Buy or Not to Buy Guide helps you upon making your future purposes!

As always, Me In Order is here to guide you in any way you need to start your organizing project. If you are interested in learning more about how to hire an expert organizer, check out our Ultimate Guide To Hiring An Expert Organizer , or contact us today!