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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, 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 have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.