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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps 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 some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Before buying any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can at last review my financial records without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.