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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.