🔗 Share this article

One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “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 due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.