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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, 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 I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.