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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

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 purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Prior to buying any item, 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 – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.