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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

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

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements without experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.