I've never had any difficulty buying expensive things I need/will-for-sure-use-and-provide-objective-value. Cars, house, etc.<p>Personal hobby type items, I'll research for weeks or more. I also enjoy the analytical process of understanding needs/wants and learning the product area. At some point, I'll converge on something that seems the most suitable for my priorities. Or sometimes one of my top picks will get big discount. I'm usually very happy with my purchase, partly from bonding during the process. Often I'll stop using it after a number of months. I never regret my purchases. I should sell things off when I know I won't use them but I'm either I'm lazy or sentimental (not sure which). [I have a VW & Yamaha collecting dust in the garage right now. I decided I wanted each before they were available in my country.]
To judge whether I personally want to buy something (not judging its quality)<p>1. I put it on a note with the current date.<p>2. I set an arbitrary date that is 1 day / $100 OR 30 days (depending on which is shorter)<p>3. I revisit the prospective purchase in my head until the deadline and ask "Do I still want this"<p>4. I purchase on the deadline<p>Judging value:
Customer reviews and corporate manufacturing practices and corporate political stance