🔗 Share this article

One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

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

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my financial records without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – 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 strong trigger. It’s probably the biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.