i read this on lifehacker yesterday and i thought it would pass it along as what i believe to be a good tip for living a simpler life and controlling impluse purchaes. it’s called the 30 day rule and here’s how it works:
1. whenever you feel the urge to splurge — whether it’s for new shoes, a new videogame, or a new car — force yourself to stop. if you’re already holding the item, put it back. leave the store.
2. when you get home, take a piece of paper and write down the name of the item, the store where you found it, and the price. also write down the date.
3. now post this note someplace obvious: a calendar, the fridge, a bulletin board.
4. for the next thirty days, think whether you really want the item, but do not buy it.
5. if, at the end of a month, the urge is still there, then consider purchasing it.
personally, i liked the sound of it and i will begin using it. i’ve been using a “wait” rule in a much less formal manner but having a set waiting period sounds interesting to me. i’ll report back on my experience later.