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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “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 clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus did not need to buy a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.