Save Money When You Ace the 30 Day Rule

Two women applying the 30 day rule savings challenge to their shopping habits

So, what exactly is the 30 Day Rule? If you’ve never heard of it before, no worries! It’s an easy way to save money.

The rule is this: when you’re out shopping and see something you want, don’t buy it. Instead, come home and write down the name of the item on a sticky note. You can also include the day you saw it and the store you were in.

The next step is to hang that note somewhere you will see it every day. A good place to hang it might be the fridge, a mirror or on your bedside table. The point of doing this is so that you think about it at least once every day.  

Lastly, when the 30 days are up, think about if you still really want the item. If you do, go ahead and purchase it.

Now that you know the 30 Day Rule, here are three easy steps to implement it. 

Start Small  

The 30 Day Rule might be hard to do at first. That’s okay!

Start small. Instead of trying the rule with a huge purchase, like a $2,000 couch, try it out with something small, like a pair of jeans.

If you happen to break the rule on this item, the penalty will be pretty small. Remember that if you break the rule, you can always try again with the next item you want to buy. That’s why you should start small, like with a purchase that costs around $20.

Think Before You Spend

Instead of simply looking at the sticky note, thinking again about the item, and letting your mind jump to the next thing, give yourself time.

When you visualize the item in your head, stop and really think about it. Do you need it? Does it benefit your life? Is it something you’ve been wanting for a while?

Being intentional about thinking about the item is half the battle in figuring out what to do at the end of the 30 days.

Related: Buy Your Dream Wardrobe Without Spending a Bundle>>

Give Yourself Some Leeway

The most important thing to remember in implementing the 30 Day Rule is that it’s okay to mess up. If you can’t wait the full 30 days before going back to the store to make the purchase, no worries! You can try again on the next item. It’s important to realize that the more you try it, the better you’ll be.

What Are You Waiting For?  

It may seem overwhelming to apply this rule to your day-to-day life. Remember, start with a small item. If you break the rule before the 30 days are up, just start over. Try again on something else. And if you stick to it, great job! You are on your way to financial success.

Related: How to Start Saving and Stop Stressing >>

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *