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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 student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. 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 uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus did not need to buy a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.