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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. 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 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, home decor and a completely useless 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 LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

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

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.