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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused 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 added LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.