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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every single retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, 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 ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.