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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.