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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of 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 stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records without experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.