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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

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

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.