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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to experiment with something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me space to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records without experiencing shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong trigger. It’s probably the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.