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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it always culminated 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 completely 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 home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to acquire a separate 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 without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.