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One day at work 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 what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience 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 novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my financial records without experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, 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 spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.