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One afternoon at my job two years ago, 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 what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.