🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased acquiring 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 shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need 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 review my bank statements without experiencing shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.