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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every single 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, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

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

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly require 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 basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using 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 shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining 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.