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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. 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 easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus did not need to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.