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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. 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, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to 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 some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.