🔗 Share this article

One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased 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 weren’t even my size. 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 anxious, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

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

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good camera, and thus did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

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

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.