🔗 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 fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and thus did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.