🔗 Share this article

One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased 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 didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of experiencing shame or discomfort.

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, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.