🔗 Share this article

One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

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

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of 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 Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.