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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse 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 because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. 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 bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

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