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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements devoid of experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.