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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my phone. 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 unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll 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 so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my financial records without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, particularly 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 impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.