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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 decent sum for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous 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 inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to try something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my financial records without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.