5 Questions to Ask Before You Say Yes to Anything

Welcome back to Live Rich Retire Rich.

Last week I shared my "five rules of never." Five financial moves I believe you should avoid if you want to protect yourself.

But here's the thing: knowing what NOT to do only gets you halfway.

You also need a filter for what TO do. A way to slow down and check yourself before you commit to something that looks good on the surface but costs you more than you expected.

So this week, I'm giving you five questions. These are the questions I ask myself before I say yes to anything that involves my money, my time, or my signature.

They're simple. But they're powerful. And if you use them consistently, they will save you from a lot of regret.

1) "Can I afford this without borrowing, stressing, or sacrificing something that matters?"

This is the baseline question. And most people skip it.

"Afford" doesn't mean "I can technically pay for it." It means: Can I pay for this without going into debt, feeling anxious, or giving up something else that actually matters to me?

If you have to put it on a credit card and hope for the best, you can't afford it. If you have to skip a bill or dip into your emergency fund, you can't afford it. If you'll be checking your account nervously for the next two weeks, you can't afford it.

Affording something should feel clean. Not tight. Not stressful. Clean.

If it doesn't feel clean, pause. There's probably a better time, a better price, or a better version of this decision.

2) "What's the real cost, not just the sticker price?"

This one trips people up constantly.

The sticker price is what they show you. The real cost is what you actually pay.

That $300/month car payment? By the time you factor in insurance, gas, maintenance, and interest on a 6-year loan, the real cost might be closer to $600/month.

That "affordable" subscription? Over a year, it's $240 you didn't notice leaving your account.

That 0% financing offer? There's usually a catch buried in the fine print.

Before you say yes, zoom out. Add up the full picture:

• What's the total amount I'll pay over time? • What fees, interest, or recurring charges are involved? • What am I giving up by putting this money here instead of somewhere else?

The sticker price is marketing. The real cost is math. Know the math.

3) "If I pay for this, am I delaying a goal that actually matters to me?"

Every dollar you spend is a dollar that can't go somewhere else.

That's not meant to make you feel guilty. It's meant to make you intentional.

So before you say yes, ask yourself: What goal does this compete with?

• If I buy this, does my emergency fund stay empty longer?

• If I finance this, does paying off my credit card take another six months?

• If I commit to this, do I push back the savings I've been meaning to start?

If the answer is yes, the cost isn't just financial. It's emotional.

You're not just spending money. You're delaying progress. You're extending the timeline on something you actually want.

And that matters more than most people realize.

4) "Is this a need, a want, or a wound?"

This one might sting a little. Said with love.

Sometimes we buy things because they solve a real need. Sometimes because they're a fun want. And sometimes because they soothe a wound.

A wound purchase sounds like:

• "I deserve this because I've been through a lot." • "If I have this, I'll finally feel on track." • "This will make me feel successful." • "I don't want to feel left behind." • "I'm tired of struggling. Maybe this is the answer."

There is nothing wrong with wanting nice things.

But you want to make sure you're not asking your credit card to do the job of rest, healing, support, or confidence.

The most expensive purchases are often the ones we make while trying to change how we feel.

So pause and ask: Am I buying this because it's truly aligned? Or because I'm trying to escape a feeling?

If it's the second one, no purchase will fix it. And you'll wake up with the same feeling plus less money.

5) "Who benefits the most if I say yes?"

This is the question that protects you from manipulation.

If you're being sold something, someone is benefiting. Financially, emotionally, or socially.

That doesn't automatically mean it's bad. It just means you should be clear-eyed.

• If I take this loan, who benefits most?

• If I buy this product, who benefits most?

• If I cosign, who benefits most?

• If I invest this way, who benefits most?

• If I sign this contract today, who benefits most?

And then ask the follow-up: Am I okay with that benefit distribution?

Because the truth is, many financial decisions are presented as "helping you" when they're designed to help the seller, the company, or the person pressuring you.

You're allowed to protect yourself. You're allowed to ask questions. You're allowed to say, "I need to review this."

A script you can steal

If you're someone who struggles to say no, or freezes under pressure, keep this in your back pocket:

"I don't make financial decisions on the spot. I'm going to review it and get back to you."

That's it.

No apology. No explanation. No oversharing.

A healthy financial decision doesn't require you to be rushed or guilted. If someone can't give you space to think, that tells you everything you need to know.

The boundary I want you to keep

Last week I gave you: No signature without clarity.

This week I'm adding: No money decision without a pause.

If you want to build wealth, protect your credit, and live with less stress, you need space between the ask and the answer.

That space is where your wisdom lives.

The pressure, the urgency, the "today only" energy? That's designed to bypass your wisdom. To get you to act before you think.

Don't let it.

Take the pause. Ask the questions. Trust yourself.

With your clarity in mind,
Najma Zanelli
Explore Offerings
Founder, NAZ Global Consultancy
Follow me on IG: @najma_zanelli
Email: [email protected]

P.S. Know someone who needs to hear this before they sign something they'll regret? Forward this to them. Sometimes the best gift is a guardrail.