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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

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

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Maybe it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.