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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two 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 anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “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 because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience 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 exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it’s only natural. 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 strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.