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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to try something new. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.