like @buywhenafford ... ?

I was thinking context too.

It's not canonical GTD, but it might be valuable to prioritize these items broadly, like:

1. Must buy when can afford: Mission critical or big enhancement to the business when we have this. I'm at risk of losing a customer if I don't get this pretty soon.
2. Really nice to have when we can afford: this will expand what we can do, or add a measure of delight for our customers, or save a decent amount of $$.
3. Pretty nice to have when can afford: I'd like to have this, it would make life easier, but the gain is smaller than a category #1 or #2 item.

Sure, just like any list you'll need to do some review due to the shift of priorities, but there won't be a lot of it (unless you have a big check and lots of money to spend!).

I had the EXACT same problem. And it took me awhile to figure out a solution. In the process of designing a one-at-a-time approach to GTD on the mac called "Ready-Set-Do!" I would get tons of "@Errands:" items. And it began to clog up my Actionable folder on my desktop.

The Solution?? --> I made a separate text file called "PURCHASE LIST" with a list of all of the items I would like to purchase divided by category (e.g. Personal, House, Living Room, Office, etc.). And I keep this list in my "Checklists" folder which gets reviewed once per week with my weekly review. During that review I go through each category and bring things to the top of each category based upon which item is the most important for that category. Or sometimes I bring this list with me for the "business meeting" my wife and I have once a month and we discuss our purchasing priorities. The only @Errands items that go in my Actionable folder to actually purchase are the "must haves" that my wife and I have committed to purchasing (in the format of "@ Errands (Office Store):...")Everything else starts on the Purchase List.

In addition, since I keep this Purchase List on my computer, I also have a physical folder I keep in my REFERENCE files called "Purchase List Support" -- and any magazine pages, or pictures or things related to potential purchases goes into that folder corresponding to items listed on the Purchase List I keep on my computer.

So far this is really working well for me. Give it a shot and see if it helps at all.

Sincerely,

Todd V

I don't know if this is kosher according to strict GTD standards, but I typically put those kinds of things on my Waiting For list. Here's an example from my current list:

"buy car kit items (list in gen ref c) @errands w/f: paycheck to clear 10/31"

Again, as my custom title will tell you, I'm a newbie to GTD but this is how I handle things. It's not really a delegated item but it is still something I'm waiting to happen before I can proceed with the next action, so that's how I handle it.

The classic answer would be to simply put these "Want to buy someday" items on your "Someday / Maybe" list.

You just need to note these wish list items somewhere that they will be reviewed regularly so you don't lose site of them, and at some point in the future you will be reviewing this list and say "I really do need that software upgrade" and I have the money right now... So you move it to a next action list in @Errands contect, or wherever makes the most sense.

My two cents...

Appelq

That sounds like it'd really work. I'm gonna try that today.

Thanks to everyone for all the help.