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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought 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 a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Maybe it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I stopped buying 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 shop, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements devoid of experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.