Tip 12: Exercise the Two Minute Rule

Life is full of little temptations, and you are going to have a run in with them every time you visit the mall or one of your favorite stores. The retailers count on it, which is why there is so much merchandise around the check-out area. Many of us struggle with the impulse to buy! I certainly do. I used to be browsing around some of my favorite stores and before I knew it, I would be at the register with a bunch of items that I wanted right then – at least I thought I really wanted them – but items that I most certainly did not need and would end up not using at all. Until I began exercising the two minute rule. When I found something that I absolutely had to have, I would just walk away from the item and promise myself that if after two minutes I really still wanted it, I would buy it.  In reality by the time two minutes had passed I was far enough away from the particular item that I didn’t bother going back for it.  It really works…just try it. A lot of the time you will find when you exercise a bit of restraint, by giving yourself a little time and distance, that you no longer have the impulse to buy. Just think, not only will you be saving money, but you will be saving space storing all that junk you only used for a day or two!