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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, 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 LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, 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 gave me space to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased buying goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.