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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 decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every 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 unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

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

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.