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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try something new. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice 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 questioning: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, 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 reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.