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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. 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 always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.