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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification 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 due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

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

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.