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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, 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 never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

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

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting 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 experiment with something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old 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 realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.