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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally 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 wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification 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 due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I ceased acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.