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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

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

I was never completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I truly require 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 start fresh. Using this method, I stopped buying things 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 realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements without experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.