🔗 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 did my usual payday ritual: I launched every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.