🔗 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 fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my financial records without feeling shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.