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One afternoon at my job 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 payday ritual: 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 clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items 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 a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.