Stop Buying Things You Don't Really Need

Have you ever been at the store and seen something cool that you just had to have? Maybe it was a new video game, a fancy gadget, or some trendy clothes. You bought it right away, but then a few weeks later, you forgot all about it. It's sitting in your room collecting dust. This happens to almost everyone, and it's called impulse buying.

Impulse buying is when you buy something without really thinking about it first. You see it, you want it, and you buy it right away. The problem is that most of the time, we don't actually need these things. We just think we do in that moment.

But there's a simple trick that can help you stop wasting money on things you don't really need. It's called the 30-day list, and it works like magic.

What Is a 30-Day List?

A 30-day list is exactly what it sounds like. It's a list where you write down things you want to buy, and then you wait 30 days before you can actually buy them. Here's how it works:

1. When you see something you want to buy (that's not a real necessity), don't buy it right away
2. Instead, write it down on your 30-day list
3. Write the date you added it to the list next to the item
4. Wait 30 full days before you're allowed to buy it
5. After 30 days, if you still really want it, you can buy it

The key is to stick to this rule no matter what. Even if there's a big sale or your friends are buying the same thing, you have to wait your 30 days.

What Counts as a Necessity?

Before we talk more about the 30-day list, it's important to know what things you don't have to put on the list. These are called necessities - things you actually need to live and be healthy.

Real necessities include:

• Food and groceries
• Medicine when you're sick
• School supplies you need for class
• Clothes to replace ones that are worn out or don't fit
• Things to fix something that's broken and important

Everything else should go on your 30-day list. This includes:

• Video games
• Toys and gadgets
• Clothes you just want (not need)
• Books and movies
• Decorations for your room
• Sports equipment you want to try
• Art supplies for hobbies
• Electronics like headphones or phone cases

Examples of How the 30-Day List Works

Let's look at some examples to see how this works in real life.

Example 1: The Cool Skateboard Sarah sees a really cool skateboard at the store. It has awesome designs on it and costs $80. She really wants it and is about to ask her mom to buy it. But instead, she writes "Cool skateboard with flames - $80" on her 30-day list and writes today's date next to it.

After 30 days, Sarah looks at her list again. She realizes she hasn't thought about the skateboard much since she wrote it down. She also remembers that she tried skateboarding at her friend's house and wasn't very good at it. She decides not to buy the skateboard and saves her $80 for something she really wants.

Example 2: The New Video Game Jake sees an advertisement for a new video game that looks amazing. All his friends are talking about getting it. The game costs $60. Jake writes it on his 30-day list.

After 30 days, Jake still really wants the game. But during those 30 days, he saved up his allowance and did some extra chores to earn the money. He also read reviews and watched videos to make sure it was really as good as it looked. Since he still wants it after 30 days and has the money saved up, he decides to buy it.

Example 3: The Trendy Clothes Emma sees some trendy clothes at the mall that all the popular kids are wearing. They cost $120 total. She writes them on her 30-day list.

After 30 days, Emma notices that the trend has already changed. The clothes she wanted don't seem as cool anymore, and she's glad she didn't waste her money on them.

Why the 30-Day List Works So Well

The 30-day list works because of how our brains are wired. There are several psychological reasons why this simple trick is so powerful.

Our Feelings Change Over Time

When we see something we want, we get excited. Our brain releases chemicals that make us feel happy and excited. This feeling is very strong, but it doesn't last long. It's like when you really, really want a piece of candy. In that moment, it seems like the most important thing in the world. But an hour later, you might not even be thinking about candy anymore.

The same thing happens with things we want to buy. In the store, that new toy or gadget seems amazing and necessary. But after a few days or weeks, the excitement wears off. We realize we don't actually need it or want it as much as we thought.

We Think More Clearly When We're Not Excited

When we're excited about something, our brains don't think as clearly. It's like when you're really hungry and every food commercial makes you want to order pizza immediately. You're not thinking about whether you actually need pizza or if you have food at home already.

The 30-day waiting period gives our brains time to calm down and think more clearly. After the excitement wears off, we can ask ourselves better questions like:

• Do I really need this?
• Will I still use this in a few months?
• Is this worth the money?
• Could I spend this money on something more important?

We Get Used to Not Having Things

Here's something interesting about human psychology: we're really good at getting used to things. If you really want something but can't have it, you'll be disappointed at first. But after a while, you'll get used to not having it. You'll find other things to do and think about.

This is exactly what happens with the 30-day list. At first, you might really want that item you wrote down. But as days go by, you get used to not having it. You might even forget about it completely. When you look at your list after 30 days, you might be surprised at how much you don't want those things anymore.

We Feel Good About Making Smart Choices

When you use the 30-day list and decide not to buy something, you feel proud of yourself. You made a smart choice with your money. This good feeling encourages you to keep using the system.

On the other hand, when you buy something on impulse and then regret it later, you feel bad about wasting money. This bad feeling makes you want to avoid making the same mistake again.

More Examples of Things to Put on Your 30-Day List

To help you get started, here are more examples of things that should go on your 30-day list:

Technology and Gadgets:

• New phone cases or accessories
• Wireless earbuds
• Gaming controllers
• Smart watches
• Bluetooth speakers
• Phone charging stands

Clothes and Accessories:

• Trendy sneakers
• Fashion jewelry
• Fancy sunglasses
• Designer backpacks
• Watches
• Hats and beanies

Entertainment:

• Movie tickets for movies you're not super excited about
• Concert tickets
• Books you want but don't need for school
• Board games
• Puzzles
• Streaming service subscriptions

Sports and Hobbies:

• Exercise equipment
• Art supplies for new hobbies
• Musical instruments
• Sports gear for sports you've never played
• Craft kits
• Collectible items

Room Decorations:

• Posters
• String lights
• Throw pillows
• Plants
• Picture frames
• Desk organizers

Tips for Making Your 30-Day List Work

Here are some helpful tips to make sure your 30-day list actually helps you save money:

Write Everything Down Don't just keep the list in your head. Write it down on paper or in your phone. When you write things down, they feel more real and you're more likely to stick to the system.

Include the Price Always write down how much the item costs. This helps you see how much money you're saving when you decide not to buy things.

Review Your List Regularly Look at your list every week or so. You might be surprised at how many things on there you don't want anymore.

Tell Someone About Your System Tell a parent, friend, or family member about your 30-day list. They can help remind you to use it when you're tempted to buy something.

Celebrate Your Wins When you decide not to buy something from your list, celebrate! You just saved money and made a smart choice.

What Happens After 30 Days?

After 30 days, you have three choices:

1. Buy the item if you still really want it and have the money
2. Keep it on the list for another 30 days if you're not sure
3. Cross it off the list if you don't want it anymore

Most of the time, you'll choose option 3. Studies show that people end up not buying about 80% of the things they put on their 30-day lists. That's a lot of money saved!

The Long-Term Benefits

Using a 30-day list doesn't just help you save money in the short term. It also teaches you important life skills that will help you forever.

You Learn to Think Before You Buy The more you use the 30-day list, the more you get in the habit of thinking before you buy. Eventually, you'll start asking yourself "Do I really need this?" automatically, even for small purchases.

You Learn What You Actually Value When you have to wait to buy things, you start to figure out what's really important to you. You'll notice that you keep wanting certain types of things, while other things lose their appeal quickly.

You Have More Money for Things You Really Want When you stop buying things on impulse, you'll have more money saved up for things you really care about. Maybe you want to save for a big trip, a car, or college. The money you save by not impulse buying can go toward these bigger goals.

You Feel Less Stressed About Money When you're not constantly spending money on things you don't need, you'll feel more relaxed about your finances. You'll know you have money in the bank for emergencies or important things.

Common Challenges and How to Handle Them

Using a 30-day list sounds easy, but sometimes it can be hard to stick to. Here are some common challenges and how to deal with them:

"But It's on Sale!" Sales can make us feel like we need to buy something right now or we'll miss out. Remember that there will always be more sales. If you still want the item after 30 days, there will probably be another sale by then.

"My Friends Are All Getting It" It's hard when all your friends have something and you don't. But remember that being different is okay. Your friends will probably understand if you explain that you're trying to be smart with your money.

"I'll Forget About It" If you're worried you'll forget about something you really want, that's actually a good sign! If you can forget about it, you probably don't need it that much.

Starting Your Own 30-Day List

Ready to try the 30-day list for yourself? Here's how to get started:

1. Get a notebook or create a note on your phone for your list
2. The next time you want to buy something that's not a necessity, write it down instead of buying it
3. Include the item name, price, and date
4. Wait 30 days
5. See how you feel about the item after the waiting period

Remember, the goal isn't to never buy anything fun. The goal is to make sure that when you do spend money, you're spending it on things you really want and will actually use.

The 30-day list is a simple but powerful tool that can help you save money and make better choices. Give it a try - you might be surprised at how much money you save and how good you feel about your purchases!