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One day at work 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 proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to experiment with something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need 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 bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, 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, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.