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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every single retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned 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 certain why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.