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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: 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. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found products sitting in my cart, 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 wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.