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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. 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 fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records without feeling shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.