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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe 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 subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, 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 time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.