Read more carefully. First you have to make sure that you're paying the lowest price for something you don't need.

The "No" from "Do I need this item?" should go directly to "Do not make purchase" and the "Yes" should go to "Really?" about 5 or 6 times before it goes on to price checking.

After "research prices" add "is it a ripoff".

That kind of thinking is what gets people in trouble in the first place.

After all, the charts says she followed a rational thought process to come to the decision.

exactly what I ask myself when faced with yet another pair of shoes I clearly don't need but technically have the cash for. I found that looking at real estate on my last trip to NYC made shoes and clothes far less tempting than usual.

This flowchart doesn't state any more than the following:

Question 1: "Do I want or need this?"
Question 2: "Can I pay in cash?"

If yes to both, "Purchase Item".

I'd prefer to see a flowchart that focuses on the merits of making a purchase and truly understanding the differences between want and need. This flowchart doesn't help me convince my wife not to spend $400 on a new Coach purse.

Between, "Do I want this Item/Yes" and "Have I researched prices" needs to be a discussion as to why I want something that I don't need !

By "I", I'm actually talking about my wife, of course...!

Let us be thankful we have commerce. Buy more. Buy more now. Buy. And be happy.

@hi: I second that.

I always thought this fell into the common sense category and that everyone just knew this stuff, but witnessing the housing market crash and everything else crash makes me realize just how many people actually DO need this chart. That's just sad.

I am trying hypnosis next (first on her, then on me if it fails).

Instead of, "Do I Have Money to Buy?" (which I understand to mean, "with which to buy," since you're not buying money but spending it), change it to, "Do I have money with which to buy that isn't required for some more important purpose?"

Most people always have money to buy something with; the trick is not to spend it merely because you have it.

@RandomHookup: You're joking but in our house it replaces "do I need this item?" since almost all purchases are wants. Unless you count video games as "needs".

Yeah, it's a bit of a mouth full, and does complicate things a lot, but don't you have to take opportunity cost into consideration at some point?

I can't think of how many times I've wanted something, had the money to buy it but put off buying it only to find out I really didn't want it as much as I originally thought.

Another alternative would be a "Could I use this money to go towards something else that I'm saving up for that'll get me that much closer to the purchase price?" box, but that's pretty wordy.

Word. I *want* a 70" Sony Bravia LCD ([www.sonystyle.com]), and could theoretically afford it. Don't think I'll be buying one anytime soon though :-)

Suit: "Sounds confusing."

*facepalm*

@PinkBox: Because you didn't really consider it. Have you really never bought something and then been like "I don't even want that, why did I buy it?".

If not, good for you. Sometimes people need to really pause and think, do you want this item, or do you just want to buy something, anything?

@aka_bigred: "Do I need this item?" is the first box, yo.

In reality, I don't buy 99% of the things I want.

The yes and no boxes should be green and red. Other than that.. very nice.

should really be researched products, not researched prices. IMHO

The real problem is that people tend to go directly from don't have the money to buy -> make purchase anyway ...

See impending credit crisis, etc ..

If you don't want or need the problem, why would you even consider buying in the first place?