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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 student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.