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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched 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, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.

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