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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. 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 home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to experiment with something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d put 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 think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements without experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.