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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an impulsive 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 about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to try something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this method 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? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

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

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.