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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. 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 culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records without feeling shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.