When I’m contemplating breaking the bank for something a bit more grand on the cost scale, I do a few things before hitting the “Buy Now” button. I look up product reviews, analyze similar options to the product I’m considering and watch a video or two to see it in action. Then I make sure to meet up with ChatGPT to have a deep discussion about whether or not my next big purchase is worth it or not. That cycle has not only saved me time and money, but also kept me from feeling a huge sense of regret and embarrassment over making the wrong financial decision.
These are the five prompts that fit any circumstance whenever I go to ChatGPT to make a final decision on buying something expensive. Hopefully, these commands do the same for you.
The right prompts to use to get more opinions on my next big purchase
Once I make my way to ChatGPT for my latest “am I making the right decision to ball out on this latest purchase?” conversation, I use one of these prompts to help me make a definitive choice:
- I'm considering buying [product name]. Help me identify the underlying problem I'm trying to solve and whether there are cheaper or simpler solutions.
- Act as a skeptical consumer advocate. Give me the strongest reasons not to buy this product.
- Describe the ideal buyer for this product and tell me whether I fit that profile.
- Create a decision framework for this purchase. What factors should I compare and how should I weigh them?
- Imagine it's one year from now. What are the most likely reasons I would regret buying this product and the most likely reasons I'd be glad I bought it?
That second prompt especially came in handy when I finally decided to pick up a PS5 arcade stick. At first, I had my sights set on the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha, which goes for $199.99. Once I mentioned it to ChatGPT alongside that trusty prompt, it brought a bunch of reasons why I shouldn’t take the plunge.
Those skeptical points included:
- You might end up spending even more on customization: The Fighting Stick α is designed to be opened and modified. That's a feature—but it can also become a money pit. A common progression is buying an arcade stick, replacing its buttons & lever, adding custom artwork, making additional upgrades, etc. A $220 purchase can quietly become a $300–$400 hobby.
- It's expensive for a niche accessory: At around $220 MSRP, the Fighting Stick α costs as much as several new games, a premium controller, an entry-level leverless controller or a significant upgrade to your gaming setup. The question isn't "Is it good?" It's "Will I get $220 worth of enjoyment from it?"
- The Hayabusa parts are divisive: HORI markets the stick around its proprietary Hayabusa joystick and buttons. The problem is that some players love them, while others immediately replace them with Sanwa parts. If you end up preferring Sanwa components, you're effectively paying premium money for parts you'll swap out anyway.
- Better alternatives may exist at the same price: At roughly the same budget, you can often find competing sticks that include Sanwa parts out of the box, different layouts, detachable cables and different ergonomics. For example, the NACON Daija Arcade Fight Stick is frequently cited as a strong alternative and has occasionally been available below the Fighting Stick α's MSRP.
After considering all of ChatGPT’s suggestions, I widened my search for a PS5 arcade stick and eventually laid eyes upon the Qanba B1 Titan Wired Joystick.
Not only was it cheaper (I found one on Amazon for $151.55), but it was also another officially licensed Sony product that instilled that same sense of trust I would have had if I purchased my first option. I got that same sense of brand satisfaction, spent a lot less and ended up preferring Sanwa parts after testing their overall feel on both my fellow fighting game enjoyers’ Hayabusa & Sanwa-equipped arcade sticks.
The takeaway
Doing all the necessary research you need to do before opening your wallet is and should always be a regular occurrence.
Injecting ChatGPT into my financial decisions has turned out way better than expected and I’ll be sure to keep doing that every time dollar signs cover my eyes at the sight of something that’s a couple of hundred dollars or more. Take those prompts if you’d like and let ChatGPT ease the difficulty that comes with your next major purchase.
