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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing 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 hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my financial records without experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.