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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.