🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.