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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened 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, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

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

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because I grew up 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 extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.