A simple yet effective strategy, the 30-day savings rule is something anyone can implement in their financial routine to help curb impulsive spending.
The rule, which encourages people to pause and reflect on nonessential purchases for a month before making them, can lead to substantial savings growth. It’s especially salient at a time when 57 percent of Americans are uncomfortable with their level of emergency savings.
Here’s how the 30-day savings rule works and how it helps you save.
Understanding how the 30-day savings rule works
The premise of the 30-day savings rule is straightforward: When faced with the temptation of an impulse purchase, wait 30 days before committing to the buy. During this time, take the opportunity to evaluate the necessity and impact of the purchase on your overall financial goals.
Some questions you can ask yourself during the month-long interval before making a decision on the purchase are:
- Is the item/service a need or a want?
- Can I afford it without sacrificing other financial goals?
- Have I researched better deals and alternatives?
- Can I allocate the money to a higher priority?
You can apply the rule to both large purchases and small daily expenses. Imagine being tempted to purchase a high-end electronic item for $800. Waiting 30 days provides time to assess whether the item is a genuine need or a fleeting desire, encouraged by flashy marketing.
Or, consider a daily habit, such as buying a cup of specialty coffee for $6. Over the course of a month, this routine can accumulate to $180. Applying the 30-day rule in this case might mean making coffee at home for a month and potentially redirecting that money toward savings or debt repayment.
What is impulse spending?
Impulse spending refers to the spontaneous purchases made without thorough consideration or a genuine need. It’s the quick decision to buy something simply because it’s momentarily appealing.
While it might lead to a sense of instant gratification, impulse spending can contribute to a number of long-term harmful effects taking aim on your wallet. It can erode your budget, diverting funds from essential expenses or financial goals. It can also lead to increased debt and diminished savings. Eventually, it might cause a strain on your financial well-being and mental health, due to feelings of guilt, regret and struggling to keep up with your finances.
By introducing the 30-day rule into your life, you directly address impulse spending. The rule acts as a cooling-off period, encouraging time for reflection and a more intentional approach to spending. It can help you distinguish between genuine needs and impulse wants while minimizing buyer’s remorse.
Tips for implementing the 30-day rule
To make the most of the 30-day rule, follow these steps:
- Create a wishlist: Maintain a list of items you desire to purchase and revisit it after the waiting period is up. You might find that some of those items have lost their appeal.
- Track savings: Use a dedicated savings account for the money you save by resisting impulse spending. Seeing how your savings grow can serve as a continuous motivator.
- Prioritize financial goals: Consider how the potential purchase aligns with both short-term and long-term financial goals. Redirect funds toward these goals as needed.
- Use a budgeting app: You can leverage technology to help you keep track of your spending and goals. Apps like PocketGuard and You Need a Budget can provide real-time insights into your spending habits, so you gain awareness of how you tend to impulse buy and where to focus on saving more.
- Reward yourself occasionally: Not every purchase needs to be put off. It’s important to have an intentional reward system in place to make the process of curbing impulse spending more enjoyable. Just make sure that the rewards remain in your budget — a reward can be something non-transactional, too, such as a day trip to the beach.
Bottom line
By incorporating the 30-day rule into your financial toolkit, you can not only control impulse spending but also establish a solid foundation for long-term financial stability. Consider redirecting savings to an emergency fund, to ensure that you have a financial buffer in the case of an unexpected expense.
FAQs
Instead of buying it right away, give yourself 30 days to think it over. Write down what you want to buy, set a reminder on your phone, or just make a mental note. Most importantly, put the money you would have spent into a savings account. This will help you build up your savings while you're waiting.
What is the 30 day rule for impulse buying? ›
A simple yet effective strategy, the 30-day savings rule is something anyone can implement in their financial routine to help curb impulsive spending. The rule, which encourages people to pause and reflect on nonessential purchases for a month before making them, can lead to substantial savings growth.
What is the 30 day saving rule? ›
The 30-day saving rule is all about controlling your impulsive spending habit by giving yourself a 30-day wait time before a purchase. This time allows you to reflect on your purchase and analyse whether it is aligned with your budget and long-term goals.
What is the savings 30 rule? ›
The 50-30-20 budget rule states that you should spend up to 50% of your after-tax income on needs and obligations that you must have or must do. The remaining half should dedicate 20% to savings, leaving 30% to be spent on things you want but don't necessarily need.
What is the 30 day rule? ›
One way to make saving money easier is to try the 30-day savings challenge. Here's how it works: When you have the urge to make an impulse purchase, wait for 30 days and give yourself time to think about it. While considering the purchase, deposit the money you need for it into a savings account.
What are the 4 signs of impulse buying? ›
The four signs of impulse buying are overspending, lack of planning, acting without considering consequences, and feeling emotionally driven when making purchases. These behaviors are often characterized by negative emotions of guilt or regret afterward.
What is the 1% rule for impulse buys? ›
The way it works is simple: When something you want to buy exceeds 1% of your annual gross income, you have to wait a day before purchasing it.
What is the 60 20 20 rule for savings? ›
Put 60% of your income towards your needs (including debts), 20% towards your wants, and 20% towards your savings. Once you've been able to pay down your debt, consider revising your budget to put that extra 10% towards savings.
What is the 80 20 10 savings rule? ›
Key takeaways
The 80/20 rule breaks out putting 20% of your income toward savings (paying yourself) and 80% toward everything else. Once you've adjusted to that 20% or a number you're comfortable with saving, set up automatic payments to ensure you stick to it.
What is the 70 20 10 budget rule? ›
The 70-20-10 budget formula divides your after-tax income into three buckets: 70% for living expenses, 20% for savings and debt, and 10% for additional savings and donations. By allocating your available income into these three distinct categories, you can better manage your money on a daily basis.
30-Day Holding Period Employees in Categories A and B, and their Family Members, who purchase a Reportable Security in a direct- control account, must hold that Security for at least 30 consecutive calendar days after the most recent purchase of the Security.
What is the 30 day rule for purchases? ›
Instead of buying it right away, give yourself 30 days to think it over. Write down what you want to buy, set a reminder on your phone, or just make a mental note. Most importantly, put the money you would have spent into a savings account. This will help you build up your savings while you're waiting.
What is the thirty days rule? ›
The 30 day savings rule is simple: the next time you find yourself considering an impulse buy, stop yourself and think about it for 30 days. If you still want to make that purchase after those 30 days, go for it.
What is the 30 day repurchase rule? ›
When you sell and trigger a capital loss, you cannot deduct the loss if you purchase an identical security within 30 days of the settlement date of the transaction. This means you cannot purchase the security 30 days before or after your settlement date.
What is the 30 day buy rule? ›
Q: How does the wash sale rule work? If you sell a security at a loss and buy the same or a substantially identical security within 30 calendar days before or after the sale, you won't be able to take a loss for that security on your current-year tax return.
How long to wait for impulse buy? ›
Wait a day (or longer!)
One way to help here is to give yourself a day or so before you buy something. Then ask yourself if you'll actually use this thing and if you can pay cash for it now. And watch out for deals that are only good for 24 hours. Don't let a countdown rush you into buying anything!
What is the 1 month rule? ›
It prevents buyer's remorse. If you spend a month thinking about a certain purchase and have discussed it with family/friends that you trust for financial advice (and you still think it is a worthy purchase), you are much less likely to regret your purchase.
