🔗 Share this article

One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every 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 went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying 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 method was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

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