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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, 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 purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.