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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and thus did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

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

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.