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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice 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 time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased 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 engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.