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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I launched every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.