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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every 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 completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, 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 mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. 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 goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.