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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was always: “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 poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, 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 understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements devoid of experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. 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 straightforward.