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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights 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, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements devoid of experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have command over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.