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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual 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 parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, 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 ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like 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 selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.