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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because I grew up 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 subconscious yearning for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.