🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

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

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to experiment with something new. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.