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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips 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 stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.