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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of 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 doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was because 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 moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.