🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I launched every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again 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 weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

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

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a low-income 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 subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.