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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.