30-Day-Waiting-Rule | How To Control Impulse Buying
Impulse buying is one of the biggest enemies in your financial freedom plan. Purchasing random stuff you didn’t plan can cost you thousands every year.
The 30-day-rule can help you save money by using delayed gratification. You can use it to identify wants vs needs. This allows you to zone in on what matters in your life and allocate your money wisely.
If you can master the 30-day rule, you will have more money leftover at the end of the month to invest in your future.
Definition Of The 30-Day-Rule For Saving Money
The 30-day-rule for saving money involves waiting 30 days before making a purchase.
This purchase can either be a service or product. Waiting this time helps you determine if it is something significant or just a temporary want that fades off within 30 days.
The 30-day rule stops material cravings on their tracks before they take hold of your mind.
Knowing that you have 30 days to wait before purchasing that item will help you focus on other things while you wait.
This purposeful delay helps you stay on track with your other financial goals instead of spending time mulling over how much better your life can be thanks to this potential purchase.
The idea of waiting 30 days can seem hard. Especially if it’s something that caught your attention, and now it’s on the back of your mind.
Nothing can deter you from your financial goals faster than a money leak. Impulse buying can wreak havoc on your finances. If you don’t have enough money, there area ways you can earn an income starting with no money.
Think about the last time you made in impulse buy.
You saw something online or on social media that caught your attention. Perhaps it was an ad carefully crafted to implant a thought in your mind.
Where is that item now?
Is it something useful that helps you on a daily basis? Or is it stored away by now?
If the answer is the latter, it is time to learn how to implement the 30-day-rule in your life now.
Related: How To Live Frugally Without Feeling Poor
How Do You Use The 30-Day-Rule?
The next time you see something you want to impulse buy, wait 30 days before buying it.
But how will you know it’s been 30 days?
Schedule it on your calendar. Take it off your mind and put a date on it. Now you’ll be reminded of that item in 30 days.
Even better, write down on a scale from 1-10 the level of interest you had at the time. You’ll be surprised how much this changes in a 30-day-period. Saving this money instead of spending will help you get ahead faster.
Why The 30-Day Savings Rule Works
The 30-day-rule works because it tricks your brain, creating a temporary loophole. A special middle ground where you are not denying yourself something but also not indulging in it.
When you wait 30 days, you get to choose what to buy on your terms instead of spending money on something frivolous.
Remember that marketers get paid six figures to know how to create a need.
They know what will light up the dopamine levels in your brain like a Christmas tree.
We truly are at a disadvantage; that is why the 30-day rule helps you level the playing field.
Tips For Sticking To Your 30 Days Savings Rule
1. Have A Long-Term Goal Written Down
Having something to look forward can help you overcome impulse buying.
Because you know something is coming around the corner, you can delay mindless spending in the short term.
This can be a dream vacation. The money that you save by avoiding impulse buying can be a reward with memories that will last a lifetime.
Another goal is paying off credit card debt. Credit card debt carries high interest and can be a drag on your finances. But the money you save from the 30-day rule can help you destroy your credit card debt.
You can use this money for a down payment on a house or use it to build up your emergency fund.
Related: Unbelievably Easy Ideas To Inspire Your Long-Term Financial Goals
2. Essentials Vs Non-Essentials
It is important to understand the difference between wants and needs. It can get confusing when you can’t tell the difference between those two.
What if you feel like this new piece of clothing can help you nail a job interview?
Do you buy it now?
Maybe, but what if it’s another shirt or dress similar to what you already have in your closet?
Knowing the difference between wants and needs matters.
It helps to have a list, one column with your must-have items and another with your non-essential items.
Your dollars need someone to manage them, and you can be the money manager of your finances.
3. Use Your Calendar
Your calendar can help you track these impulse expenses. When you set a date for the future, you ensure you’ll revisit that purchase.
If you still feel passionate about it, then buy it. Most of the time you’ll find that appeal has faded.
Writing it down has a calming effect because you know you are not saying no at the moment. You are saying, maybe.
4. Have A Buy-It-Now Price
Sometimes it is hard to say no to some small items that you want. In this case, it is good to have a maximum amount that you can allow yourself to spend without waiting.
In our home, the amount is $10. Also, it’s only a couple of times a month when we allow ourselves to spend that amount without waiting.
Related: Stretch your dollars using five simple budgeting basic
5. Return Unused Items
Remember that you can always return items back to the store. This will work on almost all occasions. If you haven’t used it as much as you thought, it may be better to get your money back.
Clothes, furniture, bedding, smartphones, and laptops have a return period of 14 to 30 days in most stores.
So go ahead and try some new things, if you don’t get much used out of them. Head back to the store and get your refund.
30 Days to financial freedom
Creating wealth comes from training your financial muscles to say no to things that are not aligned with your goals. Whoever is faithful with small things will probably be good when making bigger decisions as well.
Saving money is only the start of your journey; it is important how to budget as well.
Making money is hard work, but spending it wisely is even harder. The 30-day rule can help you postpone this hard choice and perhaps help you save money for things that will make a difference in your life and bring you true happiness instead of temporary thrills.
