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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous 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 impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure 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 house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good camera, and thus 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 look at my bank statements without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.