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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered 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 considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records without feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous 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 come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.