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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app 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 totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped buying 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 engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements devoid of experiencing shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.