🔗 Share this article

One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every single retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. 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 culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, 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 acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.