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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened 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 few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one 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, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification 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 I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I ceased buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.