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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.