🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can at last look at my financial records without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.