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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found products lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.