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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. 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 ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for novel and exciting 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 decided to try something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.