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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious 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 justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up 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 new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave 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? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.