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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. 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 mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased buying goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements without feeling guilt 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 recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.