🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

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

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control 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.