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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights 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 anxious, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.