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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to 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 time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to try something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.