🔗 Share this article

One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet 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 didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

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 warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.