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One day at work 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 student, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. 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 mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.