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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

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

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.