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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. 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 stressed, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always 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 completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.