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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought 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 a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.