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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I had a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

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

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.