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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every single retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up 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 readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, 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 – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements without feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.