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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes 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 gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.