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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, 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 clothes, home decor and a totally useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good camera, and thus did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.