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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two 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, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because 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 time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring 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 provided me time to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, 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 lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements devoid of experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.