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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.