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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 decent sum for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe 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 moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.