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

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, 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 system, I stopped buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.