I’m not much of a rules kinda guy, but the 30 day spending rule is one I really like. The rule is pretty simple – wait 30 days every time you want to make a purchase. Go buy the item if you still think it’s worth the cost after a month, but chances are good your desire to spend faded by then.
In recent memory, I have, at one point or another, wanted to buy the following:
- New Pair of Jeans
- The New iPhone When It Comes Out
- Golf Clubs (2 Wedges To Be Exact)
- Laptop
- Study Course That’s More Hype than Anything Else
Luckily, none of these “toys” passed the 30-day test. Otherwise, I would have racked up even more debt and be busy regretting my decisions instead of telling you about my win.
Adding Some Spice to the Waiting Rule
Okay, that wasn’t crazy interesting. So many of us already know this rule. We either practice it already, or we’ve decided that it’s not worth the effort. Either way, we don’t need to read the rule again.
In order to add a twist to the rule, how about paying someone else the amount when you want to buy a product? What would happen if I paid my wife $1,000 (or whatever the laptop cost) if I wanted to buy it? After 30 days, if I still want it, my wife and I can go buy it. If 30 days go by and I decide it’s not necessary anymore, my wife can give me back the money.
A little complicated and cumbersome? That’s the point. It’s probably a good thing for spending to be difficult since it will slow down that itch to buy buy buy. Other advantages include:
- You Must Have the Means – Unless the person you send the money to owns a credit card processing company, chances are great she doesn’t want to accept your visa card. If you want to buy something, you better already have the funds.
- You Feel the Lost – For 30 days, you are missing that chunk of cash and you can get a sense of how it feels emotionally without that extra financial comfort. While it’s never the same as permanently losing that chunk of change, at least it’s better than just buying with your credit card and not really knowing how much the purchase stings until your bill arrives.
- You Get a Reward – If you don’t end up buying the product, you get money. It can almost pass as a reward for not buying something.
This idea just came to me so I can’t say I’ve thought through the pros and cons. Am I a genius or is it going to be a big waste of time? Would you try it? Let us know!
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{ read the comments below or add one }
Interesting idea. When I want something badly I wait only if I don’t have all the money. Otherwise I go grab it. I’m not a compulsive buyer, since I usually have a “must have” and a “nice to have” list. Yet, I might try your idea to see how it works for me. 🙂
Another simple rule – If the only way you can afford something is to put it on your credit card, then you can’t afford it.
This is a very good idea, genius indeed! I can tell you for sure that I’d walk away and not think anything of it because I hate it when my money becomes cumbersome. So the fact that I would have to part with cash while I thought about it…nah. It would really have to be worth it!
And more often than not, the choice to save is a good one! Good for you!
I like the idea and I actually follow it. But nowadays with the return policies on big ticket items being 30-6o days depending on the time of year, one can buy say a stereo system and decide it was not worth the money and return it. Thereby spending the time without the money and with the item. I do that in addition to waiting. 30 days I think. Then 30 days I test. So far I have returned a BOSE 3-2-1 and kept an Apple iMac.
And regarding the post: I like the idea of paying it down to a friend. It’s kind of like what latinos do with a “tanda” system. A group of friends (say 5 people) pay into a pool of money every week (usually $100-200) and then take turns getting the lump sum. It’s like a joint savings account. No one makes any more money than if they had just saved the money themselves for a month and then took it out, but it helps with discipline and community building. Also when you’re in, it’s hard to get out, so it encourages continuing habits of saving.
I saw a case on ‘The People’s Court’ that dealt with this very ‘system’.
Sounds like a great common sense approach to saving. Now can we teach it to our wives/significant others? That is the real money saver!! Any ideas or proven methods?
Good rule on waiting 30 days. It’s an excellent rule actually. I have my own spin on resisting the urge to splurge, which is to actually go buy the thing, but return.
Rgds,
RB
Rich By 30 Retire By 40
Ning, what you’re trying to say here is we have to against the desire face to face. See if we can win over it or not. If we did, then the items/stuffs that we’re wanting are not so important to us.
Nope. 30 days is nothing. Should be 6 months minimum – a year is even better. By that time, you’ll either really decide it’s a good thing, or will have forgotten all about it. Works like a charm.
Mine get written on a list inside the kitchen cupboard – with a date. A year later, if it hasn’t been crossed off as a fad wish, then and only then will I buy it. If it’s not worth waiting for, then it’s probably not something I really need.
I think with your plan it might be a good idea to set up a CD with the “purchase” amount in it. Technically you are spending the money, or will have no access to it for 6 months, a year, or what not. Then at that point you can spend it or not, even get a little bit of interest while you are at it.
I agree to an extent, but I think one needs to consider where the item falls on the want vs need spectrum. I may want a new pair of shoes now, but may not need them for 3 months. However, if I force myself to wait 6-12 months for a pair of shoes, that is not ideal.
I do agree that for really big purchases that fall squarely into the “want” category (new computer/phone/tablet/stereo/game console, etc.) a 6-12 month waiting period coupled with saving for the item during that period is a great idea.
This is a great idea.
I have since adopted my wife’s philosophy on if you don’t spend now, you may die tomorrow without enjoying what you want.
I was once like you and probably still am in certain ways, but it really is true if you think about it. If you die tomorrow or get into a serious injury or health problem, the stuff you wanted to enjoy goes away.
-Mike
I get your point that you don’t want to just hoard money and NEVER have fun or get what you want/need, but keep in mind that you are essentially betting on your early death… how fun is that?
What if you take good care of yourself and live to a ripe old age, but since you spent all your money in your youth, your old age is broke and miserable?
Another thing to keep in mind if you are cynical regarding an early death: think of who else will benefit or be hurt by your fiscal habits. Are you leaving family with debt and a lack of security or might you die and leave your son/brother/cousin a nice little nest egg to help them out?
I get that some extreme frugality sucks the joy out of life, but have a little balance and don’t bet against your health and longevity as a spending philosophy!
Bam! You hit it right on the head. I am soooooooooo happy when I delay my decisions at least a few weeks, because I’ve ended up CONSUMING so much less, and investing more. 30 years laters, what a relief! Well said.
I think frugality adds to the joy in life. It’s mindless spending that sucks the joy out of life. Frugality enables you to have the money for the things that truely improve your quality of life, for example tooth crowns/tooth implants, teeth night guards, etc. You can probably guess what my latest health issue is and boy am I glad I have the money to fix it. When you think about the common things that people covet, such as designer purses and shoes, chances are good that they are made by slave labor in third world countries or countries that have little to no labor laws. They are products of human suffering. And to add insult to injury, they cost a fortune. Pretty gross.
I like the idea, especially how you get a “bonus” of money back. I’ve been deferring big expenditures because I get too busy to research and shop. Often that causes the urge to buy to subside. Another thing that happens to me is that unexpected expenditures come up and then I realize I’m glad I didn’t buy what I originally wanted. All that being said though, you can wait forever to buy things you want, but life is finite. Waiting around to buy things to see if you’ll want them in the future just reduces the amount of time you get to enjoy the things.
Interesting idea. It definitely allows for some accountability as well. It gives your spouse an opportunity to talk you out of it. I think I’ll have to try this out with my wife and see how it goes.
Solid advice. A self-imposed “cooling off” period is well advised to anyone, including those with the means to make a snap purchase.
Very good idea David. I love the 30 day rule because it really allows you enough time to do the research to actually determine if that expensive item is really worth it. You get the time to compare features, read expert reviews, and read customer reviews. In addition for hot new items that are just released (like the new iPhone) you get to see if there are any glitches or unexpected problems with the item.
I like the 30 day rule that’s similar to yours but with a small twist. You make your own layaway plan. Set $20, $30 or $50 a week aside into your savings account. When you have the money saved you evaluate whether you still want the item or not. Often when compared to the new money that you’ve forced yourself to save the shiny new toy looks less shiny and the “new found” money looks more tempting than the potential purchase.