2 hours ago
1
One day at work two years ago, a notification hit my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for someone still at university, so I did what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket I never touched.
A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn’t hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.
Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.
I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.
Eventually, I decided to try something new. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.
If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.
I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday in Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to buy a separate camera.
It also means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling shame or embarrassment.
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 signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.
Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.
