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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

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 shoes that weren’t even my size. 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, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining 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.