Quick Take & Executive Summary
- A $500 "want" on a 22% APR card can cost over $700 and take 3+ years to pay off with minimums.
- Interest snowball buries future needs under past wants—the real trap isn't the purchase, it's the compounding cost.
- Pause with iDecide: ask "Need or want?" "Can I afford it today?" "Is it worth paying for twice?"