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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added 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 ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.