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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application 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 totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to buy a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.