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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.