I want you to try something.
Next time you're about to buy something, stop.
Don't click checkout, swipe your card, or add it to your cart.
Just... wait.
24 hours.
Then come back the next day, and if you still want it, buy it.
If you don't, you just saved yourself money and regret.
Sounds stupidly simple, right?
It is.
And it works.
Why Impulse Purchases Destroy Your Budget
Here's what usually happens:
You're scrolling Instagram, walking through Target, or browsing Amazon.
You see something shiny, and your brain goes "ooh, I want that."
And within 30 seconds, it's yours.
You didn't think about it.
You just... bought it.
That's an impulse purchase.
And it's killing your savings.
The average American makes 3-5 impulse purchases per week.
Let's say that's $20-$50 per purchase.
That's $60-$250 per WEEK, and $3,000-$13,000 per YEAR.
On stuff you didn't plan to buy, didn't need, and that, honestly, you probably forgot about a week later.
Here's the thing about impulse purchases: they feel good in the moment.
Your brain gets a little dopamine hit, and you feel like you're treating yourself.
But then the package arrives or you get home from the store, and the excitement is... gone.
And you're left with something you didn't need, don't really want, and can't return because you threw away the receipt or it's past the return window.
Now it's just clutter, guilt, and wasted money.
The Waiting Period Rule
Here's how you stop this cycle:
Before buying ANYTHING over $50 (or whatever threshold makes sense for you), wait 24-48 hours.
For bigger purchases?
($250 and up)
Wait 30 days.
Write it on a list.
Take a screenshot.
Bookmark the page.
Whatever you need to do to remember it.
Then come back to it later.
If you still want it after the waiting period, cool.
Buy it guilt-free.
But most of the time?
You won't.
That "I need this" feeling fades.
You realize you don't actually want it, or you forget about it entirely.
And BOOM, you just saved yourself money without even trying.
Why This Works
Your brain's impulse center is fast but weak.
It says "I WANT THIS NOW" really loudly.
And if you act on that impulse immediately, you buy stuff you don't need.
But if you force yourself to slow down, your rational brain catches up.
It asks questions like:
- Do I actually need this?
- Where will I put this?
- When will I use this?
- Can I afford this without screwing up my budget?
And most of the time, the answer is "no."
The waiting period breaks the impulse.
It gives your brain time to realize that the "want" was temporary.
And temporary wants don't deserve permanent money.
How To Actually Use This
For online shopping:
When you're about to check out, stop.
Close the tab.
Walk away.
If it's on Amazon, put it in your cart and leave it there for 24 hours.
Amazon will even send you a reminder if the price drops.
If it's a smaller site, screenshot it or save the link somewhere.
Come back tomorrow.
If you still want it, great.
If not, delete it and move on.
For in-store shopping:
Take a picture of the item.
Note the price.
Leave the store.
Go home.
Sleep on it.
If you still want it tomorrow, go back and get it.
But most of the time, by the time you get home, you've moved on. You're not thinking about it anymore.
The urge is gone.
For big purchases ($250+):
Write it down.
Put it on a 30-day list.
Check in on it weekly.
Ask yourself: "Do I still want this? Do I still need this? Is this still worth the money?"
If after 30 days you're still thinking about it and it still makes sense, buy it.
But I'm willing to bet that 70% of the time, you'll forget about it or realize it wasn't worth it.
What This Looks Like In Real Life
Let me give you an example from my own life.
A few months ago, I saw an ad for a standing desk converter.
You know, the thing that sits on top of your desk and raises your computer so you can work standing up.
But was like $300...
The ad made it look AMAZING.
I was convinced I needed it.
My back would feel better.
I'd be more productive.
And I'd get healthier while I worked.
I was about to buy it.
But then I remembered my own rule: wait 24 hours.
So I closed the tab.
Went about my day.
The next day, I thought about it again.
Still seemed cool.
But I wasn't in a rush to buy it.
A week later, I realized I hadn't thought about it at all.
Two weeks later, I forgot it existed.
I just saved myself $200 on something I thought I "needed" but actually didn't care about at all.
That's the power of the waiting period.
It exposes impulse purchases for what they are: temporary wants that don't deserve your money.
What About "Limited Time" Deals?
I know what you're thinking.
"But Caleb, what if it's on sale? What if the deal ends today? What if I miss out?"
Here's the truth: there's always another sale.
Black Friday happens every year.
Cyber Monday happens every year.
End-of-season clearance happens every year.
If you miss this "deal," another one is coming.
Don't let FOMO (fear of missing out) pressure you into buying stuff you don't need.
The only thing worse than missing a deal is buying something you don't want just because it was cheap.
Exceptions To The Rule
There are a few situations where the waiting period doesn't apply:
True emergencies: If your car breaks down and you need it fixed to get to work, don't wait 24 hours. Fix it.
Necessities you're out of: If you're out of toilet paper or groceries, buy them. Don't wait 24 hours to eat or wipe your ass.
Pre-planned purchases: If you've been saving for something specific and you've already decided to buy it, go ahead.
The waiting period is for impulse buys, not planned purchases.
But everything else?
Wait.
Bottom Line
Most of your money problems come from impulse purchases.
Remember, you're not bad with money, you're just making too many fast decisions.
Slow down.
Wait 24 hours.
See if you still want it.
Most of the time, you won't.
And that's how you save thousands of dollars without even trying.
If you want help tracking your spending so you can see exactly how much impulse purchases are costing you, Dollar Wise makes it easy to spot the leaks.
Click here to get started and see where your money's really going.
You got this, Pookie.
Taquitos,
Caleb "Wait For It" Hammer
P.S. Try this for just one week.
Every time you want to buy something, wait 24 hours.
Track how many times you end up NOT buying it.
I bet you'll be shocked at how much money you save just by slowing down.
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