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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. 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 since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong trigger. It’s probably the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.