🔗 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 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 device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included 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 ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I ceased buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.