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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.