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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe 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 home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting 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 the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.