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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.