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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.