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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.