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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. 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, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful 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 the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.