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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me time to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

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

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.