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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched 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, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.