Money Saving Tip: The Two-Day Rule

One of the greatest ways to save money is to avoid impulse buying.  Establish a rule that if you see something you want, you’ll wait at least two days before purchasing it.  If you still feel you need it, then buy it.  In most cases, the desire to have that item will be gone, and you'll have avoided an unnecessary purchase. 

Financial counselor Larry Burkett recommended a similar plan in Your Finances in Changing Times.  Larry comments he experienced dramatic results when he initiated a delayed purchase plan for tools (his weakness): “I continued that plan for over six months without purchasing a single item on my chart.  The reason was obvious: once I left the store, the impulse passed.”