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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. 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 bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.