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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned 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 fact, 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 mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with something new. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.