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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. 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, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Before buying 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 method was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found products lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.