The procrastinator’s rule of thumb

The procrastinator’s rule of thumb. Procrastination is the act of putting off or delaying something that must be done. "Do the worst first" is the simple rule of thumb to beat procrastination of a difficult or unpleasant job.
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The leadership rule of thumb

The leadership rule of thumb. A good leadership rule of thumb says leaders should never spend more time considering what some have not accomplished versus celebrating what they have accomplished.
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The decision-making rule of thumb

The decision-making rule of thumb. How much information is required before making a decision? A good rule of thumb that many successful leaders follow says when they have sixty percent of the information they need to make a decision, they go ahead and make it.
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The estate planning rule of thumb

The estate planning rule of thumb. Warren Buffet is the world’s best-known stock market investor. Warren Buffet's estate planning rule of thumb says a wealthy person should leave his kids enough to do anything but not enough to do nothing.
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The 3-times mortgage rule of thumb

The 3-times mortgage rule of thumb. There are several methods to determine how much mortgage you can afford. A good mortgage rule of thumb says you can take on a mortgage that is roughly three times your annual income.
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The stress relief rule of thumb

The stress relief rule of thumb. According to recent research, up to 90% of all health problems are related to stress. A good rule of thumb for managing busy or stressful periods says deal with it, delegate it, or dump it.
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Email attachment rule of thumb

The email attachment rule of thumb. Email attachments are an easy way of sending and receiving a computer virus or undesirable file. A good email rule of thumb says never open an email or email attachment sent from someone you do not know.
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The fumble rule of thumb

The fumble rule of thumb. During a football game, a fumble may result in a pile of players fighting for possession of the ball. When this occurs, the rule of thumb for officials is survival of the fittest: whoever has last possession after the pile of players has been untangled gets the ball.
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The one-inch rule of thumb

The one-inch rule of thumb. You are better off dressing more conservative at work when given the choice. For ladies, the one-inch rules of thumb says skirts should not rise higher than an inch above the knee and heels should not be higher than an inch above the ground.
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The healthy company rule of thumb

The healthy company rule of thumb. A healthy company is certainly one that makes a profit. Restated another way, a general business rule of thumb says a company is healthy when it produces over $150,000 in revenue per employee.
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The resume rule of thumb

The resume rule of thumb. Your professional resume is the very first impression a potential employer sees when you apply for a position. A fundamental resume rule of thumb says everything on a resume should be organized, relevant and, above all, true.
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Welch’s business rule of thumb

Welch’s business rule of thumb. Jack Welch is the former chairman and CEO of General Electric. One of his many business rules of thumb says a company should sell or close a business or business unit that does not have a chance of being number one or two in its industry.
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The passion rule of thumb

The passion rule of thumb. Gregory Benford is a professor of physics and astronomy, a long-time advisor to NASA, and a novelist. A good rule of thumb coined by Benford says passion is inversely proportional to the amount of real information available.
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The spelling rule of thumb

The spelling rule of thumb. There are many spelling rules of thumb to help make spelling a less difficult task. The most common spelling rule of thumb says "i before e except after c, or when pronounced as a."
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The service price rule of thumb

The service price rule of thumb. A service business sells products to customers by serving or applying them. Examples include lawn cutting, hair styling and house cleaning. A business rule of thumb says a service business should charge their customers 2 to 2.5 times their cost in wages.
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The engagement ring cost rule of thumb

The engagement ring cost rule of thumb. A woman usually wears an engagement ring on her left hand, which indicates her upcoming marriage to the ring giver. A rule of thumb for how much to spend on an engagement ring suggests two month's salary.
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The "keep it or toss it" rule of thumb

The "keep it or toss it" rule of thumb. A good rule of thumb for purging items in your closest, basement or garage says if you have not used the item in a year, get rid of it. Donate the items or sell them online.
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The 1/2, 1/3, 1/6 rule of thumb

The 1/2, 1/3, 1/6 rule of thumb. There are several methods for writing an essay or article. A good rule of thumb says spend half your time researching and interviewing, one-third proofreading and editing, and one-sixth actually writing.
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The design cost rule of thumb

The design cost rule of thumb. Product defect issues discovered beyond the design process usually cost more to correct. A good business rule of thumb says a problem costing $100 to resolve in the field would cost only $10 to correct if discovered during design.
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The incumbent rule of thumb

The incumbent rule of thumb. A political rule of thumb says it is easier to win an open seat than to defeat an incumbent. Depending on their political office, incumbents have many advantages over their challengers: name recognition, patronage jobs and increased fundraising activity.
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The healthy water rule of thumb

The healthy water rule of thumb. Water is an essential ingredient in our bodies. A healthy living rule of thumb recommends the number of ounces of water per day as your body weight divided by two. For example, at 180 lbs you should drink about 90 ounces of water per day.
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The customer rule of thumb

The customer rule of thumb. It is easier to sell to an existing customer than to a new customer. A good business rule of thumb says customers will leave you for the same reason that they came to you.
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The repair rule of thumb

The repair rule of thumb. A classic situational rule of thumb says "if it aint broke, don’t fix it." This essentially means, unless there is a good reason to do something, do not do it.
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The closing cost rule of thumb

The closing cost rule of thumb. A home sale’s closing costs include attorney’s fees, title search, recording fees, and surveys. A real estate rule of thumb says a home sale's closing cost should equal about 5% of the sales price. For example, if a home’s purchase price is $200,000, closing costs will be about $10,000.
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The rule of thumb for rules of thumb

The rule of thumb for rules of thumb. A rule of thumb presents simplified information or advice that helps you make a better decision. The rule of thumb for rules of thumb says if you use a rule of thumb you may not make the best decision. Be prepared for the consequences.
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The jury deliberation rule of thumb

The jury deliberation rule of thumb. A court jury is comprised of six to twelve people whose duty is to render a rational, impartial verdict on legal issue brought before them. A rule of thumb for jury deliberation says a jury will take one day of deliberation for every week of trial.
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Amdahl's rule of thumb

Amdahl's rule of thumb. Gene Amdahl is a computer architect, known for his work on mainframe computers. Amdahl’s rule of thumb for computers says one byte of memory and one byte per second of I/O are required for each instruction per second supported by a computer.
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The holiday rule of thumb

The holiday rule of thumb. A holiday season rule of thumb says your spouse and kids will likely benefit more from about twice as much time and attention from you, and about half as much of your money spent on them.
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The holiday rule of thumb

The holiday rule of thumb. A holiday season rule of thumb says your spouse and kids will likely benefit more from about twice as much time and attention from you, and about half as much of your money spent on them.
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The car budget rule of thumb

The car budget rule of thumb. Most car buyers usually finance some or all of their car purchase. A good rule of thumb on car loan payments says your monthly car payment should not exceed 8% of your monthly gross income.
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The rule of thumb origin

The rule of thumb origin. The phrase "rule of thumb" may have originated from beer making. Before the advent of modern thermometers, beer brewers would gauge when to add yeast by dipping a thumb into the mix to find the right temperature. This practice was dubbed the “rule of thumb”.
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The heat saver’s rule of thumb

The heat saver’s rule of thumb. Home owners in northern climates may lower the thermostat during sleeping hours in colder winter months in order to save on heating bills. A good money saving rule of thumb says lower the thermostat one degree for every two hours you will be asleep during the night.
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The baker’s rule of thumb

The baker’s rule of thumb. Baked goods rely upon a preheated oven in order to bake properly. As an exception, a baking rule of thumb says any recipe that takes more than a full hour to bake completely can bake in a non-preheated oven.
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The retirement withdraw rule of thumb

The retirement withdraw rule of thumb. As a general rule of thumb, a retiree can withdraw about 4% from his or her savings and investments per year and still keep the fund going indefinitely.
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The coffee rule of thumb

The coffee rule of thumb. The average cup of coffee contains about 85 mg of caffeine. Some coffee brands are higher, some lower. The rule of thumb for coffee says the darker the roast, the lower the caffeine content.
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The college borrower’s rule of thumb

The college borrower’s rule of thumb. The average federal student loan debt among graduating seniors is nearly $20,000. A good rule of thumb says college students should keep total education debt below what they expect to earn in their first year out of college.
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The HR rule of thumb

The HR rule of thumb. "Hire slowly, fire quickly" is a good HR department hiring rule of thumb. On average, it costs a company about one-third of a new hire's annual salary to replace an employee.
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The ad layout rule of thumb

The ad layout rule of thumb. Most print advertisement designs are made up of illustration, headline, copy and logo. Designer and publisher Jacci Howard Bear's design rule of thumb says a well designed advertisement will look just as good upside down.
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The holiday budget rule of thumb

The holiday budget rule of thumb. The typical American consumer will spend between $700 and $1,000 during the holiday season. To hold the line on holiday spending, a personal finance rule of thumb says spend no more that 1.5% of your gross income on the holidays. This includes gifts, decorations, travel and wrapping paper.
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The PC repair versus purchase rule of thumb

The PC repair versus purchase rule of thumb. Personal computers may be upgraded to extend their useful service for another year or so. A helpful rule of thumb in making this decision says upgrade if the cost of the upgrade is roughly half of the cost of getting a new system.
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The retail price rule of thumb

The retail price rule of thumb. A business rule of thumb says if you are manufacturing a product there should be at least a ten-to-one markup ratio between the cost of making the product and the suggested retail price of the finished product.
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The refinance rule of thumb

The refinance rule of thumb. A financial rule of thumb says go with a home equity loan if current interest rates are higher than your existing mortgage rate. If current interest rates are lower than your existing mortgage rate, refinance your mortgage and pay it off at the lower rate.
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The apology rule of thumb

The apology rule of thumb. An apology is often the first step to better understanding in a damaged relationship. A good old rule of thumb for apologies says a meaningful, effective apology should contain exactly one pronoun: I.
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Adages

Adages. An adage is like a rule of thumb. Adages are interesting observations, practical or ethical guidelines, or pessimistic comments on life. For example, "anything that can go wrong will" or "demand creates its own supply."
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The pulpit rule of thumb

The pulpit rule of thumb. For most, it generally takes from five to seven years to become a recognized preacher, priest, cleric or religious celebrant. An old rule of thumb says one hour of study for every minute at the pulpit.
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The commuter’s rule of thumb

The commuter’s rule of thumb. A general rule of thumb for commuting says forty-five minutes is the about the longest duration most people will accept for a one-way job commute.
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The espresso rule of thumb

The espresso rule of thumb. Espresso is brewed by forcing very hot water under high pressure through extremely fine ground coffee. A coffee rule of thumb says you make the best shot of espresso with seven grams of coffee in twenty to twenty-five seconds.
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The healthy eating rule of thumb

The healthy eating rule of thumb. A good rule of thumb for healthy eating says a well balanced diet consists of 50% to 60% calories from carbohydrate, 15% to 20% protein and 25% to 30% fat.
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The dating rule of thumb

The dating rule of thumb. There are dating rules that men should obey. The essential dating rule of thumb for guys says those in a serious relationship should call her at least once a day.
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The tax versus subsidy rule of thumb

The tax versus subsidy rule of thumb. A government tax collects money from citizens, while a government subsidy provides money. An economics rule of thumb says whatever we tax we tend to get less of, whatever we subsidize we tend to get more of.
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The armed forces rule of thumb

The armed forces rule of thumb. There are roughly three million people currently serving in the U.S. armed forces. A military rule of thumb says it takes ten military support personal to put one combat soldier into action.
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The PC depreciation rule of thumb

The PC depreciation rule of thumb. The average desktop personal computer has a functional lifespan of roughly two to five years. A common PC rule of thumb says the value of a fully assembled PC decreases by 1% a week.
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The GDP rule of thumb

The GDP rule of thumb. The gross domestic product (GDP) is the sum of all products and services sold. Employment levels change with the GDP. In the United States, an economic rule of thumb says for every percentage point change in GDP, there is a corresponding 0.4 point change in the unemployment rate.
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The communicator’s rule of thumb

The communicator’s rule of thumb. There is an old saying, "It’s not what you say but how you say it." To this end, a good communication rule of thumb says think twice, talk once.
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The 90/10 project completion rule of thumb

The 90/10 project completion rule of thumb. The last leg of a project is usually the most arduous. A project management rule of thumb says 90% of a project is completed with 10% of the effort, while the remaining 10% requires 90% of the effort.
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The business process rule of thumb

The business process rule of thumb. A business process is a coordinated set of tasks that produce a business result. A general business rule of thumb says it is usually cheaper, easier and more reliable to change a process than to change a person.
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The president’s rule of thumb

The president’s rule of thumb. Twelve U.S. Presidents have served at least two full terms in office. A political rule of thumb says the power of a second-term president peaks the day after winning the second term election.
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The political party rule of thumb

The political party rule of thumb. The majority of U.S. voters register with a political party. A general rule of thumb for political elections says 80% of voters will vote for the party with which they are registered, regardless of the candidates.
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The property tax rule of thumb

The property tax rule of thumb. A real estate rule of thumb calculates a homeowner's annual property taxes at about 1% to 3% of the market value of their home. For example, the property taxes for a $200,000 home will be about $2,000 to $6,000 annually.
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Rule of thumb origin

Rule of thumb origin. One variation has it that the phrase "rule of thumb" first appeared during the 1700s in England. A reported common law during this time called the “rule of thumb” dictated that a man could discipline his wife with a stick that was no thicker than his thumb.
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The 80/20 work rule of thumb

The 80/20 work rule of thumb. Dr. Joseph Juran originated the use of the 80/20 rule in quality management research during the 1930s in what he called "vital few and trivial many." The 80/20 rule of thumb says roughly 20% of your efforts produce 80% of the results.
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The life insurance rule of thumb

The life insurance rule of thumb. Life insurance is a contract in which an insurance company agrees to pay money to a designated beneficiary upon your death. A life insurance rule of thumb says purchase a policy valued at five times your current earnings, plus two times earnings for every dependent.
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The lightning distance rule of thumb

The lightning distance rule of thumb. A good rule of thumb for calculating the distance you are from a lightning strike is one mile for every five seconds between the flash of lightning and the next rumble of thunder.
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The 80-20 medical costs rule of thumb

The 80-20 medical costs rule of thumb. Increasing numbers of companies are turning to health and wellness programs to improve the health of their employees. The 80-20 medical costs rule of thumb says 20% of a company's employees account for 80% of its medical costs.
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The 100-100 rule of thumb

The 100-100 rule of thumb. Weight loss is a result of healthy eating plus consistent exercise. A good weight loss rule of thumb says eating 100 fewer calories a day while burning 100 more calories a day will produce consistent weight loss over a period of time.
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The firewood rule of thumb

The firewood rule of thumb. As a rule of thumb, a cord of dry hardwood fuel yields about the same usable heat as 200 gallons of heating oil, a ton of hard coal, or about 4000 kilowatts of electricity.
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The workout rule of thumb

The workout rule of thumb. There are many methods to gauge your workout, for example, time, reps, distance, calories burned, etc. A fundamental rule of thumb for measuring a workout says, "No pain, no gain."
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The 3 to 1 rule of thumb

The 3 to 1 rule of thumb. A military rule of thumb says a force of one-third the size of the enemy's is required to successfully defend. A force of three times the size of the enemy's is required to successfully attack.
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The widescreen distance rule of thumb

The widescreen distance rule of thumb. A TV rule of thumb says the perfect place for the best widescreen television viewing experience is the distance of 2.5 times the diagonal size of the screen.
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The Churchill rule of thumb

The Churchill rule of thumb. Sir Winston Churchill was Britain’s wartime prime minister during World War II. Among other famous quotes, a Churchill rule of thumb says, “if you're going through hell, keep going."
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The "3 times" rule of thumb

The "3 times" rule of thumb. The "3 times" rule of thumb says a person needs to ask you three times to do something before you do it. Otherwise, it is a request they are not serious about.
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The weight gain rule of thumb

The weight gain rule of thumb. The rule of thumb for weight gain says if you consume 100 more calories a day than you burn, you will gain 1 pound in a month or about 10 pounds in a year. Losing weight requires less calories and more physical activity.
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The "impossible" rule of thumb

The "impossible" rule of thumb. By definition, the concept of "possibility" comprises that which one can achieve. The concept of "impossibility" as stated in an old rule of thumb says, "Nothing is impossible to the person who does not have to do it."
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The safe humor rule of thumb

The safe humor rule of thumb. Humor is a great icebreaker, assuming the other party shares your humor. An old humor rule of thumb says if you are in a group setting, play it safe by using self-effacing humor.
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Proverbs

A proverb. Proverbs are like rules of thumb. They are a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people. For example, "all is fair in love and war" and "the longest way around is the shortest way home."
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The day counter’s rule of thumb

The day counter’s rule of thumb. Counting days is a common habit, for example, the number of days until Christmas, the number of days remaining in a political term, and so on. An old business rule of thumb says don't count the days, make the days count.
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The "above the neck" rule of thumb

The "above the neck" rule of thumb. Is it ok to exercise when sick? The "above the neck" rule of thumb says low-intensity workouts are ok if your symptoms appear above the neck (sneezing, sore throat) versus below the neck (stomach, fever).
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The healing rule of thumb

The healing rule of thumb. A rule of thumb says it takes two years to assimilate the death of a parent, one year to go through all the anniversaries and birthdays, and one year to begin the personal healing process.
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The company stock rule of thumb

The company stock rule of thumb. "Do not put all your eggs in one basket," so goes the old adage. As for investing in your employer, a financial planning rule of thumb says you should invest no more than 10% of your savings.
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The dress decision rule of thumb

The dress decision rule of thumb. There may be an occasion where you are not sure if it calls for formal or informal attire. In this case, the fashion etiquette rule of thumb says it is always better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.
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The smoke detector rule of thumb

The smoke detector rule of thumb. Many home smoke detectors rely on batteries. To ensure they work when needed, a good rule of thumb says to check the batteries when you turn your clocks ahead in the spring, and change the batteries when you turn your clocks back in the fall.
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The football two-point conversion rule of thumb

The football two-point conversion rule of thumb. When do you go for two instead of kicking the extra point? The rule of thumb says go for two after a touchdown when you are ahead by 1, 4, or 5 points, or when you are behind by 2 or 5 points. Otherwise, kick the extra point.
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The negotiation rule of thumb

The negotiation rule of thumb. Everything is negotiable. A rule of thumb for negotiating says know what you are willing to do and not do, and know how much value you place on the issues you will be negotiating.
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The good advice rule of thumb

The good advice rule of thumb. "Some things are better left unsaid," so goes the old adage. A classic rule of thumb says if you don't have anything good to say then keep your thoughts to yourself.
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The job creation rule of thumb

The job creation rule of thumb. An economic rule of thumb says the economy needs to create at least 100,000 to 150,000 new jobs every month to keep the unemployment rate from rising.
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The baseball pitching rule of thumb

The baseball pitching rule of thumb. When two baseball teams face off in a big series, such as the World Series, a baseball rule of thumb says good pitching always beats good hitting. The team with the better pitchers will win.
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The resume GPA rule of thumb

The resume GPA rule of thumb. Your resume is the first impression to a prospective employer. A career resume rule of thumb says omit your GPA from your resume unless it is 3.0 or higher.
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The rule of thumb origin

The rule of thumb origin. There are several ideas for where the phrase "rule of thumb" originated. One suggests the phrase "rule of thumb" came from the use of the thumb as a convenient measuring tool, the distance to the first knuckle usually being about one inch.
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The home renovation rule of thumb

The home renovation rule of thumb. How do you decide to purchase another home versus staying and renovating? A rule of thumb for home renovation says if the renovation costs 10% or less than the price you could sell your home for, it pays to stay and renovate.
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Murphy’s classic rule of thumb

Murphy’s classic rule of thumb. "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong," is Murphy’s Law. One way to translate this quote suggests being proactive and prepared for when things go awry. Another translation succumbs to the notion that everything will go wrong.
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The jogging rule of thumb

The jogging rule of thumb. The rule of thumb for jogging says you burn off roughly ten calories per minute. Jogging thirty minutes, six times a week will burn about 1,800 calories. This equates to losing 1 pound of body fat every two weeks.
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The 4 to 1 rule

The 4 to 1 rule. The 4 to 1 rule for managers helps maintain good employee relations. This rule of thumb says make four positive reinforcements to an employee for every instance of corrective feedback.
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The indoor air rule of thumb

The indoor air rule of thumb. Indoor plants are a natural air cleaner and conditioner. To help prevent indoor air pollution, a rule of thumb says place and maintain one plant for every ten square yards of floor space.
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The traffic rule of thumb

The traffic rule of thumb. The typical American spends approximately 34 hours a year in traffic. A rule of thumb within the transportation industry says every minute of blocked traffic due to an incident or accident generates four additional minutes of traffic congestion.
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The purchase versus lease rule of thumb

The purchase versus lease rule of thumb. The rule of thumb for buying versus leasing a car says buying a new car always makes better economic sense. There are two exceptions to this rule: if you trade in your car every two to three years, or if you use your auto for your business.
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The "Gettysburg" rule of thumb

The "Gettysburg" rule of thumb. Drafting a lengthy email is a signal that a phone call or face-to-face conversation might be the better way to go. The "Gettysburg" rule of thumb for email says the body of an email should have fewer words than the Gettysburg Address.
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The 1 in 5 rule of thumb

The 1 in 5 rule of thumb. Americans move because of marriage, education, divorce, jobs, retirement and other reasons. A real estate rule of thumb says the average American changes their residence, on average, once every five years.
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The PC replacement rule of thumb

The PC replacement rule of thumb. A general rule of thumb for personal computers says to replace them after thirty-six months and keep the same operating system installed for its entire life.
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Rule of Thumb Daily Quote

The Proverbs rule of thumb. Proverbial rule of thumb from the Bible says, "Ill-gotten treasures are of no value."
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The competence rule of thumb

The competence rule of thumb. A good communication rule of thumb says unexpressed competence appears much the same as incompetence.
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The pet ownership rule of thumb

The pet ownership rule of thumb. According to national surveys, about 63% of all American households have at least one pet. A rule of thumb for pet ownership says pets are like vacations, they cost twice as much as planned.
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The credit card balance rule of thumb

The credit card balance rule of thumb. Credit cards provide short term financing with relatively low interest rates. A personal finance rule of thumb says your total credit card balance should be less than 5% of your gross annual income.
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The community ownership rule of thumb

The community ownership rule of thumb. Public and common land is land owned by the people of a government jurisdiction such as a country, state or city. A property ownership rule of thumb says, when everybody owns it, nobody takes care of it.
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Aphorisms

Aphorisms. Aphorisms are sayings that offer rule-of-thumb advice on how to manage one's life. For example, "lost time is never found again" and "that which does not kill us makes us stronger."
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The last minute rule of thumb

The last minute rule of thumb. "If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done," suggests the time management rule of thumb for procrastinators.
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The 1-99 Internet rule of thumb

The 1-99 Internet rule of thumb. There are 20 billion web pages produced by 70 million web sites on the Internet. The 1-99 rule of thumb says 1% of the Internet population creates most of its content while the remaining 99% consumes it.
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The "five finger" rule of thumb

The "five finger" rule of thumb. Use the "five finger" rule of thumb to find the appropriate book for a child. Read a page from the book aloud, holding up one finger for each word the child does not know. Five fingers up suggest the book is too difficult.
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Dogs of the Dow rule of thumb

The "Dogs of the Dow" rule of thumb. There are a multitude of strategies for buying and selling stocks and building a great portfolio. The "Dogs of the Dow" investment rule of thumb says invest in the ten highest dividend-yielding stocks of the thirty in the Dow Jones Industrial index.
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Collision coverage rule of thumb

The collision coverage rule of thumb. Collision insurance coverage pays for damage caused to your vehicle in an automobile accident. A good insurance rule of thumb says once your auto’s value drops below $3000, stop the collision coverage on the policy and save the extra premium amount.
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The slim clothing rule of thumb

The slim clothing rule of thumb. There are several methods to help you look slimmer without dieting and exercising. One fashion rule of thumb says wearing black or dark color clothing will minimize fullness.
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The walker’s rule of thumb

The walker’s rule of thumb. A pedometer is a pager-sized device worn on your belt that records walking distance based on your body's movement. For gauging walk distance, a general rule of thumb says a typical person walks about two miles per hour.
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Landscape rule of thumb

The landscape rule of thumb. A real estate rule of thumb says the average cost to landscape a new home is about 10% to 15% of the home's value. Studies show that high quality landscaping can add from 7% and 15% to a home's value at sale time.
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Home purchase of thumb

The home purchase of thumb. How long do you plan to live in the home you purchased? A simple rule of thumb says buy a home if you will be in the home long enough for price appreciation to cover all transaction costs. Otherwise, rent the home.
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The dog age rule of thumb

The dog age rule of thumb. There are different methods for calculating a dog’s age in human years. A canine rule of thumb says one dog year is equal to seven human years. Thus, a 3-year old dog is about 21 human years.
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Wine taster’s rule of thumb

The wine taster’s rule of thumb. The wine tasters rule of thumb says for best results put a red wine in the fridge for ten minutes, and take a white wine out for ten minutes, before opening.
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Horse racing rule of thumb

The horse racing rule of thumb. A long shot is a bet in which the chances of winning are slight but the possible winnings great. A horse racing rule of thumb says if there are too many favorites in a horse race, bet on the long shot.
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The repeat sales rule of thumb

The repeat sales rule of thumb. The cost of selling to new customers is usually much higher than selling to an existing customer. A good strategic business rule of thumb says acquire new customers at break even and make all your profit on repeat sales.
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The bad news rule of thumb

The bad news rule of thumb. There is never a good time for bad news. A public relations rule of thumb says if there is bad news to deliver, always release the bad news late in the day on Friday.
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The mediocrity rule of thumb

The mediocrity rule of thumb. Galileo, Newton and Einstein observed that our planet follows the same physical laws as our Universe. With respect to this, the scientific principle of mediocrity is a rule of thumb that says, we, and our particular location in time and space, are nothing special.
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The customer rule of thumb

The customer rule of thumb. A business is not a business without customers. A good rule of thumb states what is perhaps the most fundamental business rule of them all: the customer is always right.
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The life insurance rule of thumb

The life insurance rule of thumb. There are several methods to determine the value of a life insurance policy. A good life insurance rule of thumb says you should purchase a life insurance policy valued at five times your annual income.
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The credit balance rule of thumb

The credit balance rule of thumb. Financial planners recommend using credit cards for financing short-term purchases and for emergencies. A personal finance rule of thumb says you should carry two to six credit cards and keep the balance under 25% of the credit limit.
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The summer rule of thumb

The summer rule of thumb. The summer season is the time for bright-colored clothing. A fashion rule of thumb says you should never wear light-beige or white slacks or skirts between Labor Day and Memorial Day.
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The healthy lawn rule of thumb

The healthy lawn rule of thumb. A healthy lawn rule of thumb says grass lawns should receive at least one inch of water per week in order to maintain health and vigor.
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The 20% rule of thumb for training

The 20% rule of thumb for training. Most training initiatives result in improved knowledge and performance. The 20% rule of thumb for training says you can improve an 80% performer to a 96, but a 20% performer to no more than a 24.
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The real estate appreciation rule of thumb

The real estate appreciation rule of thumb. Real estate prices and price fluctuations vary by locality and are affected by several factors, such as economic cycles and consumer lifestyles. A real estate rule of thumb says, generally, the price of real estate doubles every ten years.
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The life insurance policy rule of thumb

The life insurance policy rule of thumb. There are several methods to determine how much life insurance is necessary for an individual. A good life insurance rule of thumb says you need $120,000 in insurance for every $500 of monthly income.
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The politics rule of thumb

The politics rule of thumb. Politics may be formally defined as the art or science of government. A good rule of thumb definition of politics says the fundamental definition of politics is: "who gets, and who pays."
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The problem solving rule of thumb

The problem solving rule of thumb. A simple rule of thumb for problem solving: compare what you have with what you want to achieve, define the difference between them, and find a way to reduce the difference. Repeat this sequence until the problem is solved.
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The high technology rule of thumb

The high technology rule of thumb. There is no hard and fast definition of what constitutes a high technology company. A business rule of thumb says a company is "high tech" if at least 10% of its employees are engaged in research and development activities.
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The lap cat rule of thumb

The lap cat rule of thumb. Most domestic cats become lap cats over time. A lap cats will usually look to jump in the lap of anyone setting nearby. A feline rule of thumb says avoid eye contact with a cat if you do not want it to jump in your lap.
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Feather’s rule of thumb

Feather’s rule of thumb. American publisher and author William Feather is often quoted in books and websites. One of Feather’s quotes doubles as a good business rule of thumb, "beware of the man who won't be bothered with details."
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The effect versus affect rule of thumb

The effect versus affect rule of thumb. Many stumble over when to use "effect" versus "affect" in a sentence. The writer’s rule of thumb for effect versus affect says use effect as a noun and affect as a verb.
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The great grandma nutrition rule of thumb

The great grandma nutrition rule of thumb. Modern food processing has introduced a host of food additives, preservatives, and artificial ingredients. Some not considered healthy. To this end, a good nutrition rule of thumb says you should not eat anything your great-great grandmother would not recognize as food.
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Website design rules of thumb

Website design rules of thumb. Some rules of thumb for good website design: do not use splash pages; do not use excessive banner advertisements; provide simple and clear navigation; have a clear indication of where the user is; and avoid using audio on your site.
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The tester’s rule of thumb

The tester’s rule of thumb. The testing phase of a project is perhaps the most important. Reinforcing this concept, a fundamental project management rule of thumb says what has not been tested does not work.
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The work rule of thumb

The work rule of thumb. Parkinson's business rule of thumb says the amount of work usually expands to fill the time allotted to its completion.
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The woodworker’s rule of thumb

The woodworker’s rule of thumb. A woodworking rule of thumb says always finish the job with the same number of fingers you started with.
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Rebate versus financing

The rebate versus financing rule of thumb. This rule says take the rebate when you have the choice of a rebate versus better financing in a new car purchase. After accepting the rebate, buyers should negotiate the lowest rate of financing available, be it with a bank, credit union or the dealer.
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The garden pruning rule of thumb

The garden pruning rule of thumb. A gardening rule of thumb says prune plants in the winter if they bloom on the current year's growth. For plants that bloom from last year's growth, prune after their blooms begin to die.
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The calorie consumption rule of thumb

The calorie consumption rule of thumb. Dieters commonly count calories to help them stay on their diet. A good nutrition rule of thumb says a person should consume about ten calories per day per pound of body weight. For example, 1,500 calories would suffice for a 150 lb person.
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The women’s rule of thumb

The women’s rule of thumb. A good rule of thumb from the perspective of women says if it has tires or testicles, you are going to have problems with it.
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The supermarket checkout rule of thumb

The supermarket checkout rule of thumb. If you change lines in the supermarket checkout, the one you just left will start to move faster than the one you are now in.
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The horsepower rule of thumb

The horsepower rule of thumb. An energy rule of thumb calculates one horsepower moves 550 pounds per second. Restated, one horsepower equates to lifting 33,000 pounds one foot over a period of one minute.
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The healthy eater’s five-second rule

The healthy eater’s five-second rule. A healthy eating rule of thumb says to consider the floor you are eating from when applying the food five-second rule.
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The 50-50-90 rule of thumb

The 50-50-90 rule of thumb. The 50-50-90 probability rule suggests that anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there is a 90 percent probability you will get it wrong.
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The homeowner’s insurance rule of thumb

The homeowner’s insurance rule of thumb. Most lenders require a buyer to obtain a homeowners insurance policy. A rule of thumb for estimating the annual policy premium for a home says $3 for every $1,000 of loan value. For example, a $200,000 home would have a $600 annual homeowner’s insurance premium.
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Bear versus bull rule of thumb

The bear versus bull rule of thumb. A bull market is a prolonged period of rising stock prices. A bear market is a prolonged period of stock price declines. A Wall Street rule of thumb says a bear market is about half as long in duration as a bull market.
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The dog age rule of thumb

The dog age rule of thumb. The average dog has a lifespan of 10 to 12 years. A canine rule of thumb calculates a dog's age by counting the first year as 15, the second year as 10, and 5 for each year after. For example, at 3 years a dog is about 30 dog years of age.
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The venture capital rule of thumb

The venture capital rule of thumb. Venture capital is a type of private equity typically directed toward new businesses. Venture capitalists are very selective. A business rule of thumb says venture capitalists invest in about one in four hundred opportunities presented to them.
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The tipping rule of thumb

The tipping rule of thumb. Most restaurant workers earn less than minimum or standard wage, with the balance made up through tips. The rule of thumb for tipping restaurant workers says 15% to 20% of the total bill, with 20% for great service.
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Yogi Berra’s baseball rule of thumb

Yogi Berra’s baseball rule of thumb. New York Yankees legacy Yogi Berra offered up perhaps the best rule of thumb for baseball when he suggested, "ninety percent of baseball is half mental."
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The two-second rule of thumb

The two-second rule of thumb. Tailgating occurs when a person drives dangerously close behind the car ahead. The two-second driving rule of thumb says allow two-seconds of driving distance between your car and the car in front of you to allow enough time to stop your car if necessary.
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The tailor's rules of thumb

The tailor's rules of thumb. Tailors have handed down simple measuring shortcuts through the years. A tailor's rule of thumb says a person's wrist is about twice the circumference of their thumb, their neck is four-times, and their waist is eight-times.
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The remodel rule of thumb

The remodel rule of thumb. Bathrooms are high on the home remodel list for return on investment. A real estate rule of thumb says the amount you spend to remodel a home's bathroom should not be more than five percent of the home's value.
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The gas economy rule of thumb

The gas economy rule of thumb. Economists acknowledge that rising gasoline prices tend to diminish overall economic performance. An economic rule of thumb says every penny per gallon rise in gasoline prices takes about $1 billion out of the economy.
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The credit rule of thumb

The credit rule of thumb. The average credit card debt among all American households is about $8,400. A credit card rule of thumb says every dollar borrowed on a credit card takes three dollars in payback.
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The sports rule of thumb

The sports rule of thumb. A sports rule of thumb says, "It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings," meaning the game is not over until the game has ended. This phrase was coined in the late 1970s and is derived from an opera’s final scene featuring a singing heavy-set woman.
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The aviator’s rule of three

The aviator’s rule of three. A simple but potentially life-saving rule of thumb for aviators is the rule of three. If three things go wrong on the ground before departure, do not depart. If three things go wrong in the air, get on the ground.
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The birthday party rule of thumb

The birthday party rule of thumb. When a child reaches pre-school age, celebrating their birthday with a party of their friends and family becomes a big deal. The rule of thumb for a child's birthday party says the number of party guests should roughly equal the age of the child.
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The ad copy rule of thumb

The ad copy rule of thumb. For most audiences, a straight, simple advertisement does the trick. A sales and marketing rule of thumb says avoid the use of highly technical, pretentious, or slang terminology in marketing and sales copy.
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The vegetable rule of thumb

The vegetable rule of thumb. The rule of thumb for vegetables says the darker the color the more nutritious. Maximize the nutrients in vegetables by eating them raw, steamed or baked.
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The name rule of thumb

The name rule of thumb. Many of us are challenged to remember the names of people we meet, especially during a large gathering. A rule of thumb for remembering names says to repeat the person's name at least three times during your initial conversation with them.
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Kraft’s serving size rules of thumb

Kraft’s serving size rules of thumb. Kraft foods rule of thumb for serving size says one clenched fist is about eight fluid ounces, two hands cupped is about one cup, the palm of a hand is about three ounces, and two thumbs together is about one tablespoon.
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Rule of thumb

Rule of thumb. Webster's Dictionary defines "rule of thumb" as follows: 1. a general or approximate principal, procedure, or rule based on experience or practice, as opposed to a specific, scientific calculation or estimate. 2. a rough, practical method of procedure.
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Wirth’s rule of thumb

Wirth’s rule of thumb. Swiss computer scientist Niklaus Wirth stated in a paper in 1995 "software gets slower faster than hardware gets faster." Wirth's Law formally states that computer software increases in complexity faster than does the ability of available hardware to run it.
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The comma rule of thumb

The comma rule of thumb. A comma is used in writing as punctuation that separates a sentence into readable segments. There are rules for when to use a comma. The writer’s rule of thumb for commas says when in doubt leave it out, when you are unsure about the use of a comma.
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The presentation rule of three

The presentation rule of three. Audience members tend to retain about three things from a presentation. A presentation rule of thumb says use the concept of three to structure your presentations. Present three ideas, each having three sections, with each section having three items, and so on.
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The timeout rule of thumb

The timeout rule of thumb. The timeout method for child discipline has been used for years. Professionals recommend parents begin using timeouts when children reach about age 2 ½. The timeout rule of thumb says 1 minute for every year of age. For example, a 3-year-old gets 3 minutes, a 4-year-old get 4 minutes, etc.
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The married tax filers’ rule of thumb

The married tax filers’ rule of thumb. Married couples have the choice of completing two separate individual tax returns or one joint return. An income tax rule of thumb says file jointly unless there are very high deductible expenses, such as medical expenses, accountable to only one spouse.
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IRS hobby rule of thumb

The IRS hobby rule of thumb. For tax reporting purposes, the IRS uses the following rule of thumb to determine if a venture is a business or a hobby. If a business reports a net profit in at least 3 out of 5 years, it is a for-profit business. If a business reports a net loss in more than 2 out of 5 years, it is a not-for-profit hobby.
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The 80/80 designer’s rule of thumb

The 80/80 designer’s rule of thumb. To keep things within scope and budget, always design for the rule and not the exception. The 80/80 design rule of thumb says design for what 80% percent of people want to do 80% of the time.
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The sales rule of seven

The sales rule of seven. Selling to new customers is more difficult than selling to existing customers. A business rule of thumb says it takes seven contacts with a potential client to turn them into a customer.
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The sunlight rule of thumb

The sunlight rule of thumb. Sunlight sustains all life on Earth through photosynthesis, climate, and weather. The human body produces Vitamin D from sunlight. An environmental rule of thumb says about 4.5 pounds of sunlight falls on the Earth everyday.
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The 90-50 project management rule of thumb

The 90-50 project management rule of thumb. The most difficult part of a project is the last 10%. The 90-50 project management rule of thumb confirms this. It comes into effect when you have completed 90% of the project leaving only 50% left to complete.
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The moving rule of thumb

The moving rule of thumb. A real estate rule of thumb says the typical homeowner will move on average every five to seven years. Moving is closely tied to life cycle. People move at certain events such as college, marriage, career advancement, divorce and retirement.
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The repair versus replace rule of thumb

The repair versus replace rule of thumb. The useful life of items such as home appliances or yard equipment can be extended through repairs. The repair versus replace rule of thumb says purchase new if the repair cost of an item exceeds 50% to 70% of its replacement cost.
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The demand rule of thumb

The demand rule of thumb. This rule of thumb says when demand is high, prices are high, and when demand is low, prices are low. Purchase mowers and grills in the winter and buy snow shovels and firewood during summer.
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The supermarket rule of thumb

The supermarket rule of thumb. Supermarkets tend to reap relatively low profit margin due to their large volume of products and high overhead costs. A business rule of thumb says a supermarket makes twenty-five cents profit on twenty-five dollars worth of groceries.
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Moore’s Law

Moore’s Law. Moore's law states that the complexity and capacity of an integrated circuit will double every two years. Among other integrated technologies, this rule of thumb applies to processing speed, memory capacity, and display screens.
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The startup capital rule of thumb

The startup capital rule of thumb. A business rule of thumb says a startup company should go into business with a sum of money at least equal to the projected revenue for the first year of business plus its anticipated expenses.
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The email rule of thumb

The email rule of thumb. Pause before you send an email message you might later regret. Avoid personal attacks and other negative comments. A good email rule of thumb says do not send an email if you would not say it to a person's face.
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The collision coverage rule of thumb

The collision coverage rule of thumb. This rule of thumb says drop the collision and comprehensive coverage from your auto insurance policy if the current value of your auto is less than $2,000. Put the premium savings in your pocket.
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The rule of 72

The rule of 72. This rule of thumb calculates the number of years required to double an investment at a given interest rate. The value is determined by dividing the interest rate into 72. For example, an investment at 8% will take about 9 years to double.
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The wall artwork rule of thumb

The wall artwork rule of thumb. Hanging artwork on a wall requires placement then mounting. A home design rule of thumb for hanging artwork says pieces will be viewed best when hung sixty inches from the middle of the piece to the floor.
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The tax and financial records rule of thumb

The tax and financial records rule of thumb. A tax return cannot be audited after 36 months from its file date. Some exceptions do apply. A tax planning rule of thumb says keep financial records such as tax forms, investment statements, bank statements, or proof of deductions, for at least six years.
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The hiring rule of thumb

The hiring rule of thumb. A good rule of thumb on hiring: excellent people tend to hire slightly weaker people than themselves, while weak people tend to hire much weaker people than themselves.
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The 80/20 friendship rule of thumb

The 80/20 friendship rule of thumb. According to dictionary.com, a friend is a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard. The 80/20 friendship rule of thumb says listening 80% of the time and responding 20% of the time will make you a good friend.
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The "2 of 3" rule of thumb.

The "2 of 3" rule of thumb. The three major attributes of most products and services are quality, price and speed of delivery. The "2 of 3" rule of thumb says you can pick any two of these attributes but not all three.
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The auto repair versus buy rule of thumb

The auto repair versus buy rule of thumb. From a purely economic viewpoint, the rule of thumb for buying versus repairing says it is always cheaper to repair your current car than to replace it. A badly rusted auto is the only exception.
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The party invitation rule of thumb

The party invitation rule of thumb. The party invitation rule of thumb says the more elaborate the event, the earlier invitations should go in the mail. The rule says for a birthday party, two weeks prior; for a retirement party, baby or wedding shower, three weeks; and for weddings, at least two months prior.
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The eight-second rule of thumb

The eight-second rule of thumb. Websites looking to attract and retain web visitors should provide a website home page that is clean, concise and fast. The eight-second rule of thumb for websites says a website has eight seconds for its home page to load before visitors will click away.
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The 5/2/1 healthy diet rule of thumb

The 5/2/1 healthy diet rule of thumb. Healthy living requires exercise along with a sensible diet. The 5/2/1 healthy eating rule of thumb says to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, fish at least twice a week, and whole grains at least once a day.
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The fashion jewelry rule of thumb

The fashion jewelry rule of thumb. Wearing jewelry for personal style is one thing, wearing it for fashion is another. Fashion rule of thumb for jewelry says less is more: one ring to a hand, one necklace to a neck, and one earring to an ear.
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RThe design lines rule of thumb

The design lines rule of thumb. There are several strategies to make a room look more appealing. The design lines rule of thumb is one such technique. This rule says use vertical lines to add height to a short room and use horizontal lines to add space or width to a narrow room.
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The 8/80 project task rule of thumb

The 8/80 project task rule of thumb. The project manger’s function is to divide a project into manageable tasks. The 8/80 project task rule of thumb says no task should be smaller than eight hours and no task larger than eighty hours.
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The allowance rule of thumb

The allowance rule of thumb. There is no exact rule on how much weekly allowance to give your child. One rule of thumb says an allowance of $3 for ages three to five, $4 for ages six to eight, $7 for ages nine to eleven, and $10 for age twelve.
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The data processing rule of thumb

The data processing rule of thumb. A rule of thumb in the data processing business says it takes a computer programmer a year to write a completely new program, a month to adapt it to a new task, a week to change it a third time, and a day to change it a fourth time.
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The secure password rule of thumb

The secure password rule of thumb. One of the basic rules for choosing a password is to ensure it is both long and complex in terms of characters. As a rule of thumb, a good password is a least eight characters long and combines letters, numbers and special symbols. For example, Ai34sW$2@.
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The business value rule of thumb

The business value rule of thumb. There are several methods of calculating the value of a business. A general business rule of thumb says the purchase price of an existing business is roughly one times the next twelve months' net revenue.
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The question rule of thumb

The question rule of thumb. The rule of thumb for asking a question says, "There is no such thing as a stupid question." Most people find when they ask a dumb question, they usually get a smart answer.
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The transportation budget rule of thumb

The transportation budget rule of thumb. A personal finance rule of thumb says transportation costs such as car payments, gas, maintenance costs, tolls, parking, insurance, buses, taxis and commuter trains, should be no more than 15 percent of your income.
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The "three click" website rule of thumb

The "three click" website rule of thumb. The "three click" rule is a fundamental web design rule of thumb. This rule of thumb says no page of a website should be more than three mouse clicks away from the home page.
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The technology budget rule of thumb

The technology budget rule of thumb. Businesses invest in technology in order to increase productivity, improve quality, or to provide new services and products. A general business rule of thumb says a typical organization will spend about 2% of its budget on technology.
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The tire maintenance rule of thumb

The tire maintenance rule of thumb. Your car’s tires will lose about one pound per square inch (PSI) of air per month. They will also lose about one PSI for every 10-degree drop in temperature. A good rule of thumb for tire maintenance says check the air pressure of each tire and rotate the set every other oil change.
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The 10/20/30 PowerPoint rule of thumb

The 10/20/30 PowerPoint rule of thumb. According to Microsoft, PowerPoint produces more than 30 million presentations worldwide every day. The 10/20/30 PowerPoint rule of thumb says a PowerPoint presentation should have 10 slides, last no more than 20 minutes, and contain no font smaller than 30 points.
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The car model rule of thumb

The car model rule of thumb. General Motors president Alfred P. Sloan introduced the model year concept in the 1920s. General Motors began the process of slightly altering car models each year as a way to market cars. A resulting automobile rule of thumb says never buy a new car in the first model year of the car.
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The snowfall to rain rule of thumb

The snowfall to rain rule of thumb. The National Weather Service records precipitation from snow in two ways, inches of snowfall and water equivalent, i.e., how much rain would have fallen if the snow had been rain. A weather rule of thumb says ten inches of snow equals one inch of rain.
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The project details rule of thumb

The project details rule of thumb. Even the largest projects depend on their smallest tasks. A project rule of thumb says "the devil is in the details", meaning the effort to complete each task can introduce unexpected complexity and varying challenges to a project.
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The personal lending rule of thumb

The personal lending rule of thumb. In some instances, you can put lending money into the same category as buying stocks or betting on sports. A personal finance rule of thumb says do not lend money you cannot afford to lose.
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The carpenter’s rule of thumb

The carpenter’s rule of thumb. An age-old carpentry rule of thumb says, "Measure twice and cut once." This is good advice to slow down, make better decisions, avoid mistakes, and get your projects accomplished.
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The work attire rule of thumb

The work attire rule of thumb. More workplaces are evolving to a casual work environment, giving their employees more latitude for how they dress. A fashion rule of thumb for work says when deciding on how to dress at work, dress like the boss.
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The college basketball rule of thumb

The college basketball rule of thumb. An old college basketball rule of thumb says a college basketball team needs at least 2½ future NBA players to win the NCAA title.
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The deck and patio design rule of thumb

The deck and patio design rule of thumb. A new deck or patio provides a place to dine and relax in outdoor comfort. A home design rule of thumb says a home’s deck or patio footprint should be no larger than one-third the area of the main floor of the house.
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The real estate transaction costs rule of thumb

The real estate transaction costs rule of thumb. The transaction costs associated with a home purchase usually represent about 6% of the sale price. A real estate rule of thumb says it takes about three-to-five years to earn back the transaction costs associated with a real estate purchase.
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The speed reader’s rule of thumb

The speed reader’s rule of thumb. Speed reading methods encompass a handful of techniques to help a person better focus their reading attention. One simple speed reading rule of thumb says you can read faster by only reading the first sentence of each paragraph.
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The designer’s rule of thumb

The designer’s rule of thumb. Antoine de Saint-Exupery was a French writer, poet and aviator. The oft-quoted writer’s design rule of thumb says "a designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."
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The red sky rule of thumb

The red sky rule of thumb. The ancient weather rule of thumb says "red sky at night is a sailor's delight; a red sky in the morning is a sailor's warning." Although not scientific, this weather predictor is generally accurate within limits.
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The half-hour trading rule of thumb

The half-hour trading rule of thumb. Stock trading should be based on sound research and solid criteria. When making a stock trade, the half-hour rule of thumb says avoid the first and last half-hour of the trading day when the market is most volatile.
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The good neighbor rule of thumb

The good neighbor rule of thumb. American poet Robert Frost’s rule of thumb says "good fences make good neighbors." This quote first appeared in Frost’s 1914 poem "Mending Wall" and has been adapted over the years to social and real estate issues.
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A rule making company

A rule making company. The German company Adaptive Behavior and Cognition Group at Berlin's Max Planck Institute for Human Development researches "fast and frugal heuristics" - rules people can apply quickly and effectively, yet which are frugal in terms of how much data you need.
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The 36-28 divorce rule of thumb

The 36-28 divorce rule of thumb. The effects of divorce generally equate to economic hardship, usually for the party who is awarded custody of the children. The 36-28 rule of thumb for divorce says after a divorce, women see their standard of living drop by 36% while it rises by 28% for men.
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The contraction rule of thumb

The contraction rule of thumb. A contraction is the formation of a new word from two or more individual words. A writer’s rule of thumb says avoid contractions - can’t, doesn’t, wouldn’t, etc. - unless you are using these words in a quotation of direct speech.
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The 1 in 10 patent rule of thumb

The 1 in 10 patent rule of thumb. A business rule of thumb says 1 in 10 inventions will receive a patent, 1 in 10 patents will be licensed, and 1 in 10 licenses will result in more than $25,000 per year in income for the licensee.
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Hofstadter's rule of thumb

Hofstadter's rule of thumb. Recursion is when a process calls itself, sometimes repeatedly, to accomplish a task. Hofstadter's project management rule of thumb says a task always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's law.
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The term life rule of thumb

The term life rule of thumb. Term life insurance pays money to a designated beneficiary upon the death of the policyholder. The rule of thumb for term insurance says multiply your current annual income by the number of years until retirement (but no more than 20) to determine the amount of term life insurance to buy.

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The actions rule of thumb

The actions rule of thumb. Author Gersham Bulkeley’s rule of thumb says "actions speak louder than words," which means what you do is more significant than what you say. This famous quote first appeared in Bulkeley’s 1692 book "Will and Doom."
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Heuristics

Heuristics. A heuristic is another type of rule of thumb. The term heuristic pertains to the process of gaining knowledge or some desired result by intelligent guesswork. It is a simplification or educated guess that reduces the search for solutions in areas that are difficult and poorly understood.
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The driving risks rule of thumb

The driving risks rule of thumb. A driver faces their highest road risks during inclement weather such as rain, snow, ice or sleet. A safe driving rule of thumb says the most dangerous time to drive is the first ten minutes after it begins to rain.
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The retirement rule of thumb

The retirement rule of thumb. Financial planners recommend saving a portion of your working income for your retirement years. A rule of thumb says you should expect to have 80% of your pre-retirement income available if you want a comfortable retirement.
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The golden rule of thumb

The golden rule of thumb. The golden rule is a basic moral principal in most religions and is the basis for modern human rights. The golden rule states: treat others the way you would like to be treated. The golden rule also referred to as the "ethic of reciprocity."
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The homework rule of thumb

The homework rule of thumb. There are several methods for estimating the appropriate amount of homework for a grade level student. An education rule of thumb says a student should spend about ten minutes of homework each night per grade level.
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The product returns rule of thumb

The product returns rule of thumb. Most companies offer a product return policy. A business rule of thumb says the more time you give customers to return your products and services, the less number of refunds you will give back.
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The "well paid" rule of thumb

The "well paid" rule of thumb. Most gauge wealth by a person's career earnings. A Fortune Magazine rule of thumb says you are well paid if you earn four times your age. For example, a person at age 30 earning $120,000 is considered well paid.
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The 1 or 10 sales and marketing budget rule of thumb

The 1 or 10 sales and marketing budget rule of thumb. A rule of thumb for setting an organization’s sales and marketing budget says this amount should be 1% of the company’s assets or 10% of the company’s revenue.
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The 10-15-20 retirement rule of thumb

The 10-15-20 retirement rule of thumb. Financial planners suggest you save at least 10% of your income for retirement. If you begin saving in your early 30s, the 10-15-20 rule of thumb says saving 10% will get you basic retirement, saving 15% will get you comfortable retirement, while saving 20% will get you a chance at early retirement.
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The 2 for 1 study rule of thumb

The 2 for 1 study rule of thumb. Homework and exam preparation is a fact of life for most students. An education rule of thumb says students should study two hours outside of class for every hour they spend in class.
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The project dates rule of thumb

The project dates rule of thumb. The primary goal of project manager is to deliver a completed project on time and under budget. A good project management rule of thumb says a project manager who estimates dates, instead of hours, guarantees a late project.
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Brooks’ rule of thumb

Brooks’ rule of thumb. The classic book "The Mythical Man Month" was written by IBM project manager Fred Brooks in 1975. The book cites the fallacy in the attempt to add more workers to a project that is falling behind schedule. Brooks' law is simple: adding manpower to a late software project makes it later.
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The recession rule of thumb

The recession rule of thumb. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is defined as the market value of all goods and services produced by a country. The economic recession rule of thumb says a recession is declared when two consecutive quarters of negative growth in GDP occur.
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The 20/4/10 car loan rule of thumb

The 20/4/10 car loan rule of thumb. Follow the 20/4/10 rule of thumb if you must borrow to buy a car. This rule says to make a 20% down payment, do not borrow for more than four years, and do not settle for a monthly payment that is more than 10% of your income.
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The 5 MPH rule of thumb

The 5 MPH rule of thumb. Every vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed. A general rule of thumb says for most vehicles each five miles per hour you drive over sixty adds an additional 21 cents per gallon for gas.
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The housing budget rule of thumb

The housing budget rule of thumb. A real estate rule of thumb says a home owner's total housing expenses, including principal, interest, property taxes, and homeowners insurance, should not exceed 25% of a their monthly income.
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The manager’s anger management rule of thumb

The manager’s anger management rule of thumb. A management rule of thumb says when a manager becomes angry at a worker’s poor performance, that anger should be directed back to the manager.
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The real estate project feasibility rule of thumb

The real estate project feasibility rule of thumb. Real estate projects such as apartment buildings or office parks must return an acceptable profit after completion. A real estate rule of thumb says a new development's rents must equal 1.2 percent, per month, of the total cost of the project in order to be feasible.
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The home rental rule of thumb

The home rental rule of thumb. The rule of thumb for home rental says on an annual basis a house should rent for about twelve percent of its market value. For example, if a house is worth $200,000 then its monthly rent should be about $2,400 per month.
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The heat miser’s rule of thumb

The heat miser’s rule of thumb. Heating bills go up during winter as the temperature outside goes down. The heat miser’s rule of thumb says you will save about three percent on your heating bill for each degree you lower your thermostat in winter.
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Grocery store checkout line rule of thumb

The grocery store checkout line rule of thumb. Stay in the first checkout line you arrived at when you pay for your groceries. The checkout rule of thumb says, if you change lines, the one you just left will start to move faster than the one you are now in.
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The five-second rule

The five-second rule. The five-second rule of thumb says food that has fallen to the floor may be eaten as long as it is retrieved from the floor before five seconds have passed.
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