🔗 Share this article

One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought 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 new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records without feeling shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.