Purchase-needs worksheet
Start with the job a purchase needs to do. Write down the situation, the things you already own and the limits that matter before looking at products. This gives you a short set of requirements to carry into a comparison, rather than a shopping list built around whatever happens to be advertised.
Use the must-have rows for conditions that would rule a purchase out, such as an exact fit, an essential function or a firm spending limit. Keep preferences in the optional rows. When a fact is missing, write the question you need answered instead of treating the requirement as satisfied.
This tool does not save your entries automatically. Download a copy to keep your work, and clear the worksheet on a shared device before leaving. Do not enter passwords, account numbers or other sensitive personal information.
Using your worksheet
- Write the use case without a brand or model.
- Review existing equipment before deciding a new purchase is necessary.
- Check every candidate against the same must-have list; do not quietly relax a requirement because an offer looks attractive.
Assumptions and limits
This worksheet does not recommend products or verify suitability.
A budget is a user-entered constraint, not an estimate of market prices.