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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two pairs of 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 stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

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 stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can at last review my financial records devoid of feeling shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.