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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, 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 easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.