🔗 Share this article

One day at work two years ago, 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 payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing 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 single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.