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One day at work a couple of years back, 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 proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, 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 doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – an action 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 negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, 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 store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.