🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.