🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of 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, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put 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 occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

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

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements devoid of experiencing shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.