One day at work two years ago, 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 proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.
A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.
Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.
I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.
In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Before buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I truly 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 sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I understood I never actually play board games.
I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.
It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or embarrassment.
Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.
Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.
Elara is a seasoned gaming journalist with a passion for slot mechanics and player strategies.
