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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of 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 mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try something new. Before buying any item, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records without experiencing guilt 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 signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.