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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 did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet 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 didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably 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 entirely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up 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 bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying any item, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.