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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every single retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included 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 stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.