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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought 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 reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.