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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased buying things 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 play board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can at last review my financial records without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.