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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, 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 shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £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 outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before acquiring any item, 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 space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that features 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 purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.