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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every single shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, 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 shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

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

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements devoid of experiencing shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions 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 catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.