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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up 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 hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, 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 – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found products lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.