Guides / Shopping habits
The 24-hour rule for impulse buys
Wait a day. Most "musts" become "maybes".
Many small purchases happen in a moment: a link, an ad, a checkout display. Waiting a day before buying anything unplanned filters out most of them.
How it works
- When you want something unplanned, add it to a list or a cart, but don't buy
- Wait 24 hours (or a week for bigger things)
- If you still want it and it fits your budget, buy it guilt-free
Make it easier
- Remove saved cards from shopping sites
- Turn off shopping app notifications
- Unfollow accounts that mostly sell to you
General educational information. Prices vary; your savings depend on your own habits. Pocketful of Savings isn't paid by any store, brand or app.