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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. 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 bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up 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 financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to buying any item, 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 technique was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.