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One afternoon at my job 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 payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that I never used.

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

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

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

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to buy a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of experiencing shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.