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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.