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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

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

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.