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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found items sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this system, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.