Needs vs wants: the one question to ask before you buy

A need is something you can’t do without. A want makes life nicer. Both are fine — the trick is knowing which is which before you pay.

The 24-hour rule

For any want over ₹500, wait a day. If you still want it tomorrow, buy it happily. Most impulse buys don’t survive the wait.

Sale is not saving

Spending ₹700 on a ‘50% off’ item you didn’t plan to buy isn’t saving ₹700 — it’s spending ₹700.