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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

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

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records without feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.