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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two 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 stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, 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 realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.