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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

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 signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.