🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every single retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.