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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps 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 house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started 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 found items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.