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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened 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 clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

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

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.