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One day at work two years ago, 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 when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.