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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.