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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every single shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to reflect – 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?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.