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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt 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 hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.