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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was always: “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 my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records without feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.