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One day at work 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 proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Before buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements without experiencing shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.