Use the 24-hour rule

For any non-essential purchase over $20 (or any amount really), wait at least 24 hours before you actually fork over your hard earned dollars on the purchase. If you still want it just as much tomorrow, you can consider it. Most of the time, the impulse will pass. This one trick alone has saved me thousands of dollars, and I am a first hand witness to others who struggle with impulse buying. My particular obsession was always kitchen gadgets, and 90% either gather dust or got tossed in a purge. In today's digital age, you are constantly bombarded with algorithms selling you all of the stuff that you simply must have... "act now and get a free this or that". Virtually every shopping app has a "cart", "add to list" or "save for later" feature... use it! If you stew on it for a couple days and still feel it's worth it, then go for it if it is in your budget. Sleep on it first and you will usually realize it simply isn't worth it.

FINANCE AND BUDGETING