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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, 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 usual when payday arrived: I launched every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included 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 notorious for it since I started earning.

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

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

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