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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary 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, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one 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 a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.