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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and exciting 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 something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.