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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, 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 added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

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

I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control 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.