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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I launched every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements devoid of experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.