The treadmill for “more” is endless. And as the saying goes, the more stuff we buy, the more our stuff owns us.

And we wake up to clutter: owning more stuff than we actually need: I am a #1 offender in this.

Gary Collins, author of The Simple Life, had some great questions to ask yourself before buying something:

1. Do I need it?

   The toughest one to answer. Wants/needs are blurred so easily. A recommendation I found is to leave it in the cart or write it down, and a find way to “earn” it by reaching a goal.

2. Can I afford it?

   And this includes all the hidden costs too (tax, service, fees, etc). I am a fan of having all the money up-front for the total cost of ownership; versus a payment plan.

3. Can I live without it?

   Life will carry on as it always does. Will you remember the need for this in a week?

4. Can I maintain it?

   When things break (and everything does break), I have the money and resources to fix it.

5. How will I use it?

   I can commit to using this and not have it collect dust in a closet.

My hope for myself is to take an honest and practical eye on everything I own (and want to own).

Less is best.