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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, 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 mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage 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 began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.