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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 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 single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased 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 weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated 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 certain why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I ceased buying goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.