The Simple Spending Rule That Helps Me Buy Less & Regret Less

Impulse shopping used to be my weakness—until I started doing this one simple thing.

Whenever I see something I want to buy, whether it’s in a store or online, I open a note in my phone and add it to a running list. That’s it. No cart, no checkout, no guilt.

The only rule? It has to sit on the list for at least a week.

If I still want it later—and I mean really want it—I buy it. But more often than not, I either forget about it or realize I didn’t actually need it.

This tiny habit has saved me hundreds of dollars and helped me feel way more intentional with my spending. It also comes in handy when someone asks what I want for my birthday or Christmas. Instead of scrambling, I already have a thoughtful list of things I’ve genuinely considered.

It’s low-effort. No fancy app, no spreadsheet. Just a note in my phone, and a little breathing room between want and buy.