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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one 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 anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned 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 sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, 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 – something I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing 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 Croatia. After pausing I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.