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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated 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 about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never taken. 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 accessed my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.