🔗 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 decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned 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 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 doomscroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my cart, 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 considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

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

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.