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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.