One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.
A short while after, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.
Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.
I was never entirely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.
The Game-Changing Strategy
In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.
If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.
I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to buy a separate camera.
The Lasting Impact
It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements without feeling guilt or embarrassment.
Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.
Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.
