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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that I never used.

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

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

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

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.