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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure 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 home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.