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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

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

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to try something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.