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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. 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 few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go 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 novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can at last review my financial records without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.