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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up 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 usual when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling 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 experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

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

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.