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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, 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 entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on 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 occasion since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.