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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two 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 doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, 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 require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.