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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire 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

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally 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.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.