set/buy

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1
  1. It failed to meet vital political benchmarks it set for itself.
    1a. It failed to meet vital political benchmarks it set itself.
  2. You need to decide what you can afford to buy for yourself.
    2a. You need to decide what you can afford to buy yourself.
    Are they correct?
    Do #1 and #1a mean the same? What about #2 and #2a in meaning? Do the differ?
2

Hi, I think #1 is fine, but 1a is not correct. #2 is fine. 2a is a bit better than 1a, but it is a little ambiguous I think. It could be saying you need to decide for yourself or buy for yourself. Adding the “for” removes the ambiguity: You need to decide what you can afford to buy for yourself. or You need to decide for yourself what you can afford to buy.