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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application 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 I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.