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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to try something new. Before buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.