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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned 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 new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – 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 realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.