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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

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

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling 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 try a novel idea. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.