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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.