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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused heavy 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 added light strips 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, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive 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 completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

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

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.