Every impulse purchase I regret shared one thing: I wanted it right now. So I added a rule — anything over $75 waits 72 hours.

What happens in three days

Most of the time, the want fades. The thing I "had to have" on Tuesday is forgettable by Friday. The ones that survive the wait are the ones I actually buy, and I've never regretted one of them.

It's not restraint

It's just delay. The urge is real, but it's short. Give it a little time to pass, and it usually does.