🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. 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 mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to buy a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.