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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit 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 shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

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

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.