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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two 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 anxious, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.