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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every 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 clothes, home decor and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

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

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, 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 visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records without feeling shame or embarrassment.

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

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.