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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.