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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 fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

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

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play 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, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can at last look at my financial records without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.