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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor 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 owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never entirely 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 time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and exciting 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 experiment with something new. Before buying 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 technique was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.