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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.