🔗 Share this article

One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice 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 adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus did not need to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, 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 preys on this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.