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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. 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 anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

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

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.