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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. 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 never touched.

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

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to try something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements devoid of experiencing 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, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.