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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my device. 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 useless heavy blanket that I never used.

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

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. 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 opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

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

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.