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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 student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two 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 anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

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

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the 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 motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.