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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. 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 anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – 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 come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.