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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.