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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.