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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe 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 some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Before buying anything, 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 time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my financial records without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.