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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records without experiencing shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.