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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income 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 hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

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

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.