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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.