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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that never touched.

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

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

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.