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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain 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 brighten up the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on 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 questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly 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 straightforward.