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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened 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 weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying 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 exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually 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 cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

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

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.