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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, 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 binge. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.