The honest answer before you buy.
“Can I afford it?” really means “can my monthly surplus absorb it without debt?” A $1,200 purchase on an $800 surplus is 1.5 months of saving — reasonable. The same purchase on a $100 surplus is a year of strain — not reasonable.
Financing flips the question into “can I afford the payment?”, which is how $1,200 items become $1,600 items. Save first, buy once. Your surplus is the only honest judge.
After all expenses, aim to keep at least 20% of take-home pay unspent — that is the savings slice of the 50/30/20 rule. Below 10%, big purchases should wait.
Yes. A purchase that wipes your safety net isn't affordable — it is a gamble. Fund 1–3 months of expenses first, then save for the item separately.
Rarely for depreciating wants. The exceptions: 0% offers you can truly clear in time, or needs (a car for work) where waiting costs more than interest.
Everything: rent, bills, groceries, transport, subscriptions, debt minimums, and a realistic slice for fun. Undercounting expenses is how “affordable” becomes debt.