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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips 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 stressed, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, 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 experiment with something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.