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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.