🔗 Share this article

One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.