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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before buying any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to buy a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling guilt 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 signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.