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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another 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 reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to experiment with something new. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements without feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.