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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: 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 launched every retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements devoid of experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.