🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two 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 bored, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

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

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my financial records without feeling shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.