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One day at work a couple of years back, 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 when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

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

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.