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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements 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 rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely liberating. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.