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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 fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included 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 since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.