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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.