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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Before buying 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 technique was that it gave me time to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting 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 holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely 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 goods feels as radical as it is simple.