🔗 Share this article

One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights 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 anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “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. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with something new. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

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

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.