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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every single retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. 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 since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. 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 started asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can at last review my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.