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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

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 included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Of course, there have been times 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 rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.