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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually require 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 clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of experiencing shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.