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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to try something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.