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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up 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 shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have 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.