Emotion certainly has a part to play in making good decisions (I’ll come on to that in the next Rule).²⁷ However, emotions are the culprit in a huge number of bad decisions. My own personal fault is making snap decisions for no good reason. Frankly, how much can it matter when you’re choosing which chocolate bar to buy, or which evening to go to the cinema? But it’s a whole different story when you’re buying a house or a car or booking an expensive holiday or deciding whether to take a job, or indeed whether to hand in your notice in a fit of pique.

If this describes you, just stop it (I’m talking to myself here too). I understand, I really do, but it’s only a matter of time before you do something you really can’t afford, or is entirely unfair to someone else. Look, you have to know yourself and recognise your shortcomings if you want to be a Rules thinker. And we gut decision makers have to curb our tendencies when it comes to the big decisions. If you’re anything like me, deep down you know perfectly well when you’re making a decision faster than is seemly. So make yourself take time out and don’t act on the decision for a fixed period of time appropriate to the decision. Maybe 24 hours, maybe a month. If you don’t know how long the enforced pause should be, ask advice (and not from another snap decision maker). For big or expensive decisions, also do some research. Proper research …

Ah yes, that’s another problem with emotions. It’s so tempting only to look for facts that support the decision your gut feeling tells you to take, or only to ask advice from the people you’re confident will agree with you (as in Rule 76). Even if you’re not prone to snap decisions, most of us are susceptible to fooling ourselves. You want to buy an expensive electric car so you just research how cheap it is to run, you like the thought of working abroad so you only look into the benefits for your CV, you fancy a luxury holiday so you find one that’s a bargain price for what it is.

Ooh, or you tell yourself you ‘deserve it’. That’s a good one. Well, maybe you do. But that’s not actually a sound basis for spending money you can’t spare. Do you also deserve the overdraft it could result in? It’s your money, go ahead and spend it if you want to. Just be honest about whether it’s a wise decision and, if it’s not, make a conscious decision to spend your money unwisely. Don’t kid yourself it can be justified rationally.

Now, electric cars are a good thing for the environment. Working abroad has lots of positives. Who doesn’t enjoy a luxury holiday? I’m not saying any of these things are right or wrong in themselves. But are they the best decision, right now, for you? That’s about much more than your emotional response. It’s about your bank balance, your other commitments, your time, your family … so consider all the relevant factors, not only the ones that suit your emotional response. That way, if you make an irrational decision, you do it with your eyes wide open.