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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good camera, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.