The older I got the more politics began to matter to me, culminating in:
- Is it available second hand? If yes, buy. If no:
- Is it available new and made in the EU? If yes or no and looking outside the EU:
- Can I live with myself giving money to the producer in question, considering ecological and ethical aspects? If yes, buy. If no:
- Do I, regardless of 3, need* it? If yes, buy. If no, abandon purchase.
Note that 4 is a filter that 1, 2 and 3 are always and continuously weighed against.
If the item passes 1 through 4, I tend to buy the best** that I can afford, in order to get the fullest experience, because YOLO.
*my needs are subject to change based on peer pressure, mental health, laziness, resolve, season and other things. In my society, with my skin color and assigned gender, I am privileged enough so that my needs rarely - if ever - pertain to survival.
**the definition of best depends on the item in question, on its function and my use case. If I'm looking for a lightbulb because I want to increase the perceived coziness in a room, I go for the dimmest and warmest light, while if I'm looking for a lightbulb because I need to see better when working, I go for the brightest and coolest light.