🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.