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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes 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 almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.