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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 decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips 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 bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to experiment with something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I had a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.