One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that I never used.
A few days later, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.
Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.
I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of demands.
Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.
If I accessed my shopping apps and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play board games.
I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate camera.
It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records without experiencing shame or embarrassment.
Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive spending.
Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.
A tech enthusiast and gaming aficionado with over a decade of experience in digital media and content creation.
