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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

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

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.