🔗 Share this article

One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened 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, home decor and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. 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 desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and thus did not need to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.