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One day at work 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 single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. 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 bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.