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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights 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 always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.