🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can at last review my financial records devoid of experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.