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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.