🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated 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 low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try something new. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, 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 pausing I recalled I had a phone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.