A few years ago, I decided to run every potential purchase through a filter of “Can it wait?” In effect, that filter helps me *procrastinate* from spending money. It’s also especially helpful for someone like me whose lifestyle is invested in electronics gear (computers, cameras, lenses). Even if I think some purchase will be very useful or important, “can it wait?,” even a week. And then sometimes, a week later has changed everything, or it can wait another week. Other times, it turns out it wasn’t so needed as I thought.

But the best part of it is that it can make spending decisions much easier and less stressful. A couple months after I started this, I did a search on eBay for an old rare CD box set to check its general availability, with no intention of actually making the purchase. But among all the $150 copies, there was ONE for $60. Could it have waited? Well, yes, if I wanted to wait to spend $150 down the line (which for a 3 CD set was of course exorbitant), or NO, if I wanted them at a reasonable price that was obviously becoming increasingly rare. It really struck me how the filter had taken all the stress out of the decision. And, of course, much more often, it puts the purchase off for another day.

So perhaps not so useful for you, Ash, but perhaps helpful for anyone else reading this.