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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £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 owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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 completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.