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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: 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 unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.