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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. 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 phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. 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 anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try something new. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.