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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual 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 parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. 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 inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.