The '24-Hour Rule' That Helps Retirees Save
Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to make impulse purchases. You can have items delivered to your home in a day with just a few clicks on your phone or laptop. And while impulse spending can burn a hole in your wallet at any point, it can be especially detrimental to make big purchases without proper planning when you’re retired and no longer earning a paycheck.
Enter the 24-hour rule, a savings strategy that involves waiting 24 hours to buy non-essential items. Here’s what you need to know.
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The 24-hour rule explained
Most people aren’t strangers to the temptation of an impulse buy. Whether you suddenly realize your cooking would be easier with a higher-quality kitchen appliance, or you see a new pair of shoes at the mall that would suit you perfectly, it’s easy to pull out a credit card without thinking twice.
The 24-hour rule requires you to reflect on each purchase before committing to it. You can do this by delaying the purchase for a day which can help you determine whether you actually need to buy the item or you’re being impulsive. In many cases, the impulse to make the purchase passes.
Impact of the 24-hour rule
You may not think twice about a quick $30 purchase — but making that purchase twice a month adds up to $720 in a year.
If you extend that math over an even longer period, your spending can be significant. But if you implement the 24-hour rule and only end up making a few of those purchases, the savings could be significant, too.
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Adjusting the 24-hour rule for you
Like with many personal finance rules, it’s important to adjust this rule so that it makes the most sense for you.
Maybe you need to wait 72 hours to make a purchase, or you implement rules around how long you wait for certain expenses, like 24 hours for items under $50, 48 hours for those over $75 and 72 hours for those over $100. For some people, online shopping is much more tempting than picking up non-essentials in the store, and they may want to implement this rule only for when they’re shopping from home.
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You can also add barriers to help you not hit "buy" right away and instead wait the 24 hours, such as not keeping your credit card information saved on your devices.
In retirement, you want to enjoy the hard-earned money you’ve saved throughout your working years. But implementing this simple rule can be the difference between running out of money and making it last.