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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 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 – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found 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 utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had 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 discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.