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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. 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 new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.