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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. 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 anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to 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 moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.