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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum 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 phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, 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 I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

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

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.