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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.