When I was growing up, my mom’s mantra was “Let’s wait to see if it goes on sale.” She is a clearance queen, in the best way possible—that woman can find a deal like no other, whether she’s negotiating a Craigslist item, browsing her local TJ Maxx, or rapidly flipping through the sale rack at her favorite department store. I still vividly remember shopping for high school dances. Most of the girls I knew had parents who spent upward of $250 at the minimum on a dress, hair, and makeup. My mom’s budget was $50, no negotiation, but somehow we always found the coolest, most unique dresses. While I did have moments of wishing I could be like everyone else in my class, I recognized, even back then, how my mom’s frugality was not only smart but also had no bearing on an end result. We could find the same full-price, name-brand items at a lower cost, and look good doing it—just at a later point than what was deemed popular.
Delayed gratification is a skill, albeit a rusty one for some people. With this challenge focus on the difference between purchases that actually add value to your life and ones you make out of habit or a self-determined “want” disguised as a “need.” Waiting might make you feel a little stressed or itchy to have the item in question, but keep telling yourself that if it’s meant to be, it’ll work out, and you’ll likely save money in the process.