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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. 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, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £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 poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.