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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. 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 succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.