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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added 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 impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Maybe it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased buying goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my financial records without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.