🔗 Share this article

One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Before buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found items sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to buy a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of experiencing shame or embarrassment.

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

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.