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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify 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 biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.