🔗 Share this article

One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, 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 pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was always: “It's only £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 decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, 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 done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to buy a separate camera.

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 without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.