🔗 Share this article

One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

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

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

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.