🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.