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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned 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 new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. 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. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try something new. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased buying goods 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 board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.