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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

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

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to experiment with something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.